Punjab air quality worsens as farm fires and Diwali emissions rise
The state's seasonal farm-fire tally reached 4,657 after more than 1,350 incidents were recorded in 48 hours, according to The Tribune.
Punjab's air quality deteriorated following Diwali, with the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) recording an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 287 on Monday. The state's seasonal farm-fire count has reached 4,657, including more than 1,350 incidents reported over the last 48 hours.
According to The Tribune, official AQI readings on Monday included 336 in Jalandhar and Mandi Gobindgarh, 292 in Ludhiana, 279 in Khanna, 257 in Amritsar, and 221 in Patiala. These figures were higher than the Saturday readings, which ranged from 115 in Amritsar to 281 in Mandi Gobindgarh.
Some private monitoring platforms reported much higher AQI levels, such as 1,955 in Ludhiana and 1,651 in Sangrur, late on Diwali night. A senior PPCB official disputed these readings, stating that private platforms may use outdated equipment or different methodologies and do not follow the government's 24-hour averaging system.
Environmental experts said the spike indicates firecracker emissions added to existing pollution. Smog-like conditions were seen across the state, with smoke from burning crop residue and crackers creating a thick layer in various locations.
The PPCB has imposed environmental compensation in 1,228 cases, fining farmers a total of Rs 62.55 lakh, of which Rs 32.60 lakh has been recovered. A PPCB official said they are hopeful the farm-fire season is ending and the annual tally will not exceed last year's figure of 4,062.