BATHINDA: The surge in cases of crop residue burning continued in Punjab on Monday as the state recorded 4,397 new cases, taking the total count to 42,330.
In a matter of five days, the total number of cases has jumped by two times, rising by 21,847 cases during the period day and each day recording at least 3,000 cases. On November 4, the state recorded 3,032 incidents, followed by 5,327 on November 5, 3,942 on November 6, 5,199 on November 7, and 4,397 on November 8.
In 2019, only 335 incidents were recorded on November
8. In 2020, this figure was 3,543 on the same day. In 2019, 43,299 incidents had been reported till November 8 and 61,149 in 2020. On Monday, Sangrur recorded 625 cases, followed by 580 in Moga, 406 in Ferozepur, 398 in Ludhiana, 332 in Barnala, and 305 in Bathinda.
Overall, Sangrur has recorded 4,093 cases so far, followed by 4,080 in Ferozepur, 3,546 in Tarn Taran, 3,379 in Moga, and 3,252 in Ludhiana. Pathankot has recorded only four cases so far this year.
Since November 1, the total number of cases has nearly trebled as the figure was 14,920 on November 1.
The sudden rise in farm fires has also dashed the hopes of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), which was hoping for the number of incidents to reduce this year.
Rising cases of stubble burning have also deteriorated air quality. On Monday, the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app showed this in its daily air quality index: The AQI was 244 in Jalandhar, 280 in Khanna, and 254 in Ludhiana. In Patiala, the AQI was 326, which means the quality of air is “very poor”. Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Monday reviewed the air quality in Delhi-NCR observing that the contribution of stubble burning may rise in the next five days with the AQI fluctuating between 'very poor' and 'severe' categories.
