Contrary To AAP's Claims, Stubble Burning Reduced In Haryana Too; Punjab Reported Highest Single-Day Count: Govt Data

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change announced on Monday (30 October) that the total number of stubble burning incidents in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, National Capital Region-UP, and National Capital Region-Rajasthan has significantly decreased from 13,964 during the period between September 15 and October 29 in 2022 to 6,391 this year.

Specifically, in Punjab, during the aforementioned 45-day period, there were 5,254 stubble burning incidents, a significant decrease from 12,112 in 2022 and 9,001 in 2021. The Ministry noted that farm fire incidents in the state during this 45-day period were 56.6 per cent and 41.6 percent lower than the corresponding periods in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

"In Punjab, during these 45 days, the highest single-day fire count for this year was reported on 29th October, with 1,068 incidents, as compared to 2,067 reported on 28th October in 2022 and 1,353 reported on 29th October in 2021," the government added, according to Hindustan Times.

The districts with the highest incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year so far include Amritsar (1,060), Tarn Taran (646), Patiala (614), Sangrur (564), and Ferozepur (517).

In Haryana, there were 1,094 stubble burning incidents reported between September 15 and October 29 this year, a decrease from 1,813 last year and 2,413 in 2021, representing reductions of 39.7 per cent and 54.7 per cent compared to the previous two years.

The top five districts with the most farm fires in Haryana are Fatehabad (180), Kaithal (151), Ambala (147), Jind (132), and Kurukshetra (120).

However, the Indian Express report claiming the rise in Haryana farm fires was about the period between 15 September and 12 October, while the other report on Punjab was for a period between 15 September and 27 October. Thus AAP made false comparison of different time periods.

The Ministry stated that the Centre has provided approximately Rs 3,333 crore under the Crop Residue Management Scheme to Punjab, NCR states, and Delhi to subsidise the procurement of machines by individual farmers, custom hiring centers, and cooperatives.

These machines facilitate in-situ management of paddy straw and ex-situ applications, including baling/raking machines and equipment. The remarkable reduction is also attributed to frequent reviews and daily monitoring by the government.

The total number of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines available in Punjab is 1,17,672, in Haryana is 80,071, and in UP-NCR is 7,986. Furthermore, action is underway to procure an additional 23,000 CRM machines in Punjab, 7,572 in Haryana, and 595 in Uttar Pradesh for the NCR to enhance availability during the current harvesting season.

Acknowledging the recent increase in stubble burning cases in Punjab, the government has advised both Punjab and Haryana to mobilise their entire state administrative machinery to implement preventive and corrective measures to control stubble burning, ensuring that the progress made is sustained in the coming days.

This advice is in line with the Framework and Action Plans established by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM).