Punjab farm fires may decrease as 85 per cent of paddy is harvested
Government data shows more than 85 per cent of the 3.28 million hectares of paddy in Punjab has been harvested by November 4.
More than 85 per cent of the 3.28 million hectares of paddy cultivation in Punjab had been harvested by November 4, according to government data reported by the Hindustan Times.
Officials expect the number of farm fires to drop soon as much of the crop is now harvested, which may reduce the impact of stubble smoke on Delhi. Punjab recorded 2,347 farm fires between September 15 and November 4, compared to 2,839 during the same period last year.
In Tarn Taran, the district with the highest fire count this season, 98 per cent of the 179,500 hectares of cultivated area has been harvested. The district has recorded 558 farm fires, exceeding the combined totals of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently issued notices to seven Punjab districts, including Fazilka, Faridkot, and Jalandhar, for failing to take enough action to control fires. These districts had higher fire counts than the same period last year.
Kurinji Kemanth of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said untimely rains delayed the Punjab paddy harvest by five to ten days. She noted that while over 33 per cent of Punjab farmers use ex-situ management, states must focus on fast-tracking biomass projects and storage facilities.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that more than 70 per cent of harvesting was complete and expected harvesting to reach nearly 100 per cent by next week.