Punjab Records 25% Drop in Farm Fires From Last Year

Punjab has recorded a 25 percent drop in the number of farm fires as compared with last year, data collected through satellites show.

However, the number of farm fires is still high in Punjab, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blaming the neighbouring state’s farmers for the poor quality of air in the NCR, Times of India reported.

The report cited the latest data by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) which show at least 26,237 cases of stubble burning till 4 November as against 35,278 cases during the previous year.

The PPCB has been using the geospatial data and satellite imagery provided by the Punjab remote sensing centre at Ludhiana to spot farm fires.

According to the report, the total number of farm fires recorded during paddy harvest in 2016 was 80,879 while it was 43,660 in 2017.

Till 4 November, the maximum number of farm fires were detected in Ferozepur where the satellite caught 3,286 instances of crop residue being set on fire, the report said.