According to recent data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Madhya Pradesh, not Punjab or Haryana, registered the highest number of stubble burning incidents this year. This is the first time since 2020 that Madhya Pradesh has topped the list. While the number of farm fires decreased in Punjab and Haryana, there was an increase in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Stubble burning, a key cause of pollution in Delhi and nearby regions, occurs as farmers clear fields for wheat sowing between mid-October and mid-November. This year’s shift in patterns has regulators concerned, with officials noting that though the motivations for stubble burning differ between these regions and Punjab-Haryana, the exact reasons remain unclear. Additionally, reports suggest that some farmers in Punjab and Haryana may be burning stubble late in the day to avoid satellite detection. The IARI considers the harvest season to run from September 15 to November 30, but officials acknowledge that it may extend beyond this period in some areas. Interestingly, despite earlier indications of increased paddy burning in Punjab and Haryana in 2023, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) did not report this data to the Supreme Court or make it public.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/farm-fires-rise-in-mp-drop-in-punjab-haryana-iari-data/article68932800.ece
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