Punjab Records Season’s Highest Farm Fires on Diwali, Air Quality Worsens Across Major Cities

Punjab marked Diwali with the season’s largest increase in farm fires, as 484 stubble-burning cases were reported on Thursday. The sharp rise in incidents is adding significant pollution, putting additional strain on air quality across the state. Sangrur district recorded the highest number of farm fires with 89 cases, followed closely by Ferozepur with 65, Mansa with 40, and Fatehgarh Sahib with 36. Other districts also reported numerous cases: Tarn Taran and Kapurthala each recorded 35, Patiala 33, Amritsar 29, Bathinda 28, and Gurdaspur 20.

The total farm fire incidents in Punjab now stand at 2,950 for the season. The escalation in cases was first observed in mid-October, with 177 cases reported on October 12, 163 on October 13, and 173 on October 15. October 29 saw an additional 219 cases, suggesting that the issue is ongoing and increasing. This trend aligns with the peak paddy harvesting period and the narrow window farmers have to prepare their fields for wheat sowing, set between November 1 and November 15. Faced with time constraints, farmers often resort to stubble burning as a quick and affordable way to clear their fields, despite the known environmental impacts.

Experts from the Punjab Pollution Control Board had anticipated a rise in stubble-burning incidents during Diwali, as official machinery and enforcement agencies were likely to be engaged in festival-related activities, potentially reducing monitoring efforts. This surge in farm fires, combined with the widespread use of firecrackers, has led to deteriorating air quality across several urban centers in Punjab. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mandi Gobindgarh reached 264, while Patiala recorded 247, Jalandhar 227, and Ludhiana 206, all falling into the ‘poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Amritsar and Bathinda showed relatively better AQI levels, with 160 and 108, respectively, though both remain concerning.

The continuing farm fire incidents pose a severe environmental challenge for Punjab, as the air quality in cities like Ludhiana, Patiala, and Jalandhar worsens with each passing day. Public health experts have raised alarms, urging immediate measures to mitigate pollution, especially with winter approaching. Poor air quality can exacerbate respiratory issues and lead to long-term health risks. Efforts to curb stubble burning are essential to avoid further deterioration in air quality, particularly as the wheat sowing season nears. The government is under pressure to increase support for farmers to adopt alternative residue management solutions to alleviate the annual crisis impacting air quality across northern India.