Home / Environment / Punjab Officials Face Fire Over Stubble Burning Crisis
Punjab Officials Face Fire Over Stubble Burning Crisis
5 Nov
Summary
- Punjab officials issued show cause notices for failing to control stubble burning.
- Delhi's air quality reached its worst in 288 days, categorized as 'Very Poor'.
- Stubble burning contributed significantly to Delhi's PM2.5 concentration.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued show cause notices to deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police in five Punjab districts for their failure to control stubble burning incidents. This action expands the total number of Punjab districts facing regulatory scrutiny over farm fires to nine. The crackdown coincides with a severe deterioration in Delhi's air quality.
Delhi's air quality index (AQI) reached 377 on Wednesday, its worst in 288 days, falling into the 'Very Poor' category. Several monitoring stations within Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) breached the 'Severe' threshold. Regional stubble burning was identified as a significant contributor, accounting for an estimated 16.28% of Delhi's PM2.5 concentration.
Nationally, satellites detected 467 active paddy residue burning events across northern and central states on Wednesday, with Madhya Pradesh and Punjab reporting the highest numbers. Delhi's AQI is forecast to remain in the 'Very Poor' category and potentially deteriorate into the 'Severe' category by the weekend, coinciding with Diwali celebrations.
