Despite fall in stubble burning incidents, Delhi’s air quality remains a challenge- The Week

Though there has been a reduction in stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, Delhi’s air quality continues to face post monsoon challenges as per a new study.

Both Punjab and Haryana are key regions for stubble burning and these fire incidents are a major contributor to Delhi’s air pollution.

As per a study by Climate Trends, from 2019 to 2023, both Haryana and Punjab experienced fluctuations in fire incidents, with notable reductions in 2022 and 2023.

Haryana’s fire counts dropped from 14,122 in 2019 to 7,959 in 2023, with fire activity consistently higher from September to December. Karnal and Kaithal had significant decreases of approximately 86% and 78%, respectively, showing major reductions in fire activity. However, Gurgaon, Mewat and Jhajjhar showed notable rises in fire incidents.

In Punjab, too, fires peaked at 95,048 in 2020 before falling to 52,722 in 2023. Post monsoon period remains fire prone. Significant reductions in fire counts were observed in districts like Gurdaspur and Muktsar, with decreases of up to 71%. Moderate decreases were noted in districts such as Bathinda and Faridkot, with reductions ranging from 22% to 45%.

Some districts, including Amritsar and Sangrur, saw minimal reductions. Meanwhile, a few places like Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar experienced slight increases in fire counts.

Delhi’s air health was significantly impacted by these fire incidents. On days without fires, the city’s AQI averaged 175 (Moderate). However, during the same stubble burning season, AQI increased to 233 (Poor), and on days when fires exceeded climatological averages, AQI spiked to 337 (Very Poor).

Fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana contributed to a 103-unit increase in Delhi’s AQI, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated fire management and air quality interventions across these states. The data reveals a distinct seasonal pattern in fire activity, with the period from September to December consistently experiencing more fires than the earlier part of the year.

The report calls for the need for sustained fire management strategies and cross-state collaboration between Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi to mitigate the effects of stubble burning on air quality.