Madhya Pradesh records 708 stubble burning incidents since September 15
Satellite data shows 94 crop-burning events occurred in the state on November 3, raising concerns over enforcement of the burning ban.
Madhya Pradesh recorded 94 crop-burning events on November 3, bringing the state's total since September 15 to 708, according to satellite data compiled by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR) reported by Urban Acres.
The incidents occurred during the paddy harvesting season, including fires near 11 Mile Road on the outskirts of Bhopal. Farmers in that area reportedly burned piles of paddy residue left after threshing, despite a state law that prohibits such burning and allows for financial penalties and the withdrawal of government benefits.
On November 3, Madhya Pradesh had the third-highest number of incidents among seven monitored states, following Punjab with 584 and Rajasthan with 100. Between September 15 and November 3, the state ranked third with 708 incidents, after Punjab's 2,196 and Rajasthan's 838.
Pracheer Dixit of the Emergency Response Centre at the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board said the agency's role is to collate data from NASA and ISRO satellites and transmit it to district collectors. Dixit told the Times of India that the responsibility lies with collectors to take notice of the data and take necessary steps.
Dixit added that work is continuing on the ground to curb fires and mitigate pollution effects. While the monitoring system identifies incidents, the state law's effectiveness depends on whether detection leads to inspections and identification of landholders.
Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana did not respond to requests for comment. The satellite data tracks fires through heat sensors but does not specify how many of the detected incidents resulted in penalties.