The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite images show a sudden increase in paddy crop residue burning cases in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh since October 25.
Satellite images show that farm fire incidents have dramatically increased in the past few days as large parts in these States seem lit with orange dots, signifying farm fires.
The images show 4,229 incidents which include 3,616 in Punjab, 404 in Madhya Pradesh, 162 in Haryana and 47 in Uttar Pradesh on October 31.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, as many as 35,228 farm fire incidents were reported in these States between October 1 and 31 so far as compared to the 25,778 in 2019 and 22,665 in 2018.
As per the satellite data images, there were 4,853 incidents in these States on October 30.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences said paddy crop residue burning contribution in Delhi and NCR’s pollution is around 40 per cent on November 1 this year as compared to the 44 per cent last year during the same period.
Punjab has reported 4,272 incidents, highest in the season on October 30. The previous highest number of farm fires was 2,926 reported on October 28. Tarn Taran and Amritsar are among the top in the list of farm fires in the state.
The Agriculture Ministry said the reason behind increasing incidents of paddy crop residue burning is that the paddy area harvested in Amritsar district has increased by 35,500 hectare and in Tarn Taran by 39,300 hectare in 2020 as compared to 2019.
The proportion of burnt area to harvested area in Amritsar has increased from 38 per cent in 2019 to 74.6 per cent in 2020 - an increase of 36.6 per cent. Similarly, in Tarn Taran the proportion of burnt area to harvested area has increased from 30.9 per cent in 2019 to 60.9 per cent in 2020 - an increase of 30.0 per cent. Interestingly, farmers in these two districts planted potatoes and vegetables peas after paddy harvesting, the sowing of which needs to be completed by mid-October.
With many paddy growers continuing to defy the ban on burning crop residue, the authorities concerned have imposed a fine of over Rs 85 lakh in 3, 172 cases from erring farmers. A total of 16 FIRs have been registered so far under section 188 (disobeying orders) of the Indian Penal Code against farmers for burning residue, the official said, adding 39 cases had also been filed in the court under the relevant provisions of the Air Act.
The officials of the Agriculture Ministry attributed the rise in stubble burning incidents this year to early arrival of paddy crop and expressed hope that the number of such cases would decrease. The State had seen 20096 stubble burning incidents in 2019 and 16207 in 2018 the corresponding period of last year, according to the data. The spurt in stubble burning incidents came despite the State Government appointing 8,000 nodal officers to check farm fires, besides giving more machines for the management of crop residue.
According to a study on paddy crop residue burning Punjab, the practice of paddy residue burning in Punjab has been reported every year first from the districts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran. The farmers here plant potato and vegetables like peas after paddy harvesting, the sowing of which needs to be completed by mid-October.
As per study, it is estimated that increase in burning in 2020 due to early harvesting is about 9800 ha and increase in burning due to increase in burning practice is about 16,900 ha area in Amritsar. It is estimated that increase in burning in 2020 due to early harvesting is about 7,020 ha and increase in burning due to increase in burning practice is about 16,380 ha area in Tarn Taran. “The higher incidents of burning in 2020 in comparison to 2019 are on account of (a) increase in area harvested, as well as (b) increase in practice of residue burning this year. As both these districts have sizeable area under Basmati varieties, it also implies that some farmers are also practicing residue burning of Basamti paddy also,” the study pointed out.
On Friday, of the total farm fire incidents with Sangrur district seeing 753 stubble burning cases, the highest in the State. Among other districts, Patiala saw 458 incidents of farm fire, followed by 533 in Ferozepur, 436 in Bathinda and 223 in Mansa.
