Foul air season: Farm fires start in north India; impact on Delhi negligible so far

NEW DELHI: Stubble burning has started with 64 farm fires recorded in Delhi's neighbouring states this season. Though the count remains low and won't impact air quality just yet, past trends show that crop burning picks up sharply around Oct, after withdrawal of the monsoon from northwest India.Of the total cases recorded so far this season from Sept 15 to 21, Punjab witnessed 56 cases, Haryana three cases, UP four and Rajasthan one, as per satellite data compiled by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), which follows the standard protocol 2021 notified by the Commission for Air Quality Management.Despite floods, Punjab recorded marginally higher farm fires this time. From the period between Sept 15 and 21, Punjab witnessed 56 cases compared to 52 last year.

Of the total paddy residue burning events reported in Punjab so far, 35 are from Amritsar, seven from Patiala, and five from Tarn Taran. However, the numbers at the moment are too low for any inference to be drawn about the rest of the season.

Farm fire impact on Delhi negligible so far Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "While early interventions are needed to upscale implementation of the key strategies to prevent stubble burning, be also prepared to address the special challenges this year.

Giving all farmers timely access to crop residue management machines and ensuring collection of waste stubble from the fields to provide feedstock and raw material to the industry are likely to face barriers in the flood-affected areas.

" She added that this needs immediate evaluation for stronger preparedness and refinement of the enabling measures.Since the fire counts are currently low, the impact of stubble burning on Delhi's air quality is negligible.

However, the monsoon has started withdrawing, and it is expected to retreat from some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab during the next 24 hours. The stubble burning trend of the past year shows that the peak burning usually takes place from the end of Oct to mid-Nov.Gufran Beig, founder, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) and chair professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), said wind speed and wind direction play an important role in the transfer of smoke from burning sites to Delhi."Unlike previous years, this winter season will have an advantage as the monsoon has started withdrawing on time and festivals will be observed early this time. Festivals will be celebrated in Oct when winter conditions are yet to set in," said Beig. During winters, unfavourable meteorological conditions, including calm winds and low temperatures, cause the accumulation of pollutants.During the stubble burning period from Sept 15 to Nov 30, Punjab recorded 10,909 farm fires in 2024; 36,663 in 2023; and 49,922 in 2022. During the same period, Haryana witnessed 1,406 cases in 2024; 2,303 in 2023; and 3,661 in 2022. Uttar Pradesh reported 6,142 counts in 2024; 3,996 in 2023; and 3,017 in 2022, while Rajasthan saw 2,772 in 2024; 1,775 in 2023; and 1,268 in 2022. Delhi recorded 13 cases in 2024; 5 in 2023; and 10 in 2022.