Punjab Faces Escalating Farm Fires and Alarming Air Quality Concerns

Punjab sees a significant rise in farm fires, crossing 7,000 incidents with Sangrur recording the most on Monday. Consequently, the air quality across Punjab and Haryana remains 'poor', while Chandigarh marks 'very poor'. The agricultural practice largely contributes to increased pollution levels in the region.

As farm fire incidents surge past the 7,000-mark in Punjab, concerns over deteriorating air quality heighten. Data from the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre indicates 418 new cases reported on Monday, underscoring a troubling trend.

Air quality across Punjab and Haryana reflects grim statistics, with many areas rating as 'poor', while Chandigarh's Air Quality Index (AQI) plummets into the 'very poor' category. Significant stubble burning incidents, especially in Sangrur, compound atmospheric pollutants.

The short post-harvest window before the Rabi crop season incentivizes some farmers to resort to burning, inflating pollution levels as a quick field-clearing measure. Over recent years, these practices have seen a concerning rise, posing health and environmental risks in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)