Farm fires Touch A Record High As Punjab, Haryana Lock Horns Over Air Pollution

The Rising Panjab Bureau

With the harvesting season entering the last lap in most of Punjab, farm fires have hit a record high as farmers set the residual stubble on fire to prepare fields for the Rabi crop.

According to official data available here, Punjab recorded 3,634 cases of farm fires on November 2. This is not only the highest in a day for the current harvesting season but also the highest in the last three years. On November 2, a total of 4,172 farm fire cases were reported in North India and Punjab contributed to almost 87% of the cases for the day. The number of total cases in Punjab for this year has touched 21,480, which is almost 80% of the total cases reported this Kharif season in North India.

Haryana has recorded 2,249 cases, Uttar Pradesh 802, Delhi six, Madhya Pradesh 1,206 and Rajasthan recorded 408 cases till November 2.

Satellites of Punjab detected 3,634 active fire incidents in the state on November 2, 2022, whereas on the same day (November 2) in 2020, 3,590 active fire cases were captured. In 2021, there were 3,001 active fire cases in Punjab.

Interestingly, Sangrur which is the home turf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and epicentre of farmer movement, again recorded the highest farm fire cases for the day i.e., 677. It is almost double the previous day. There is a major spike in the Malwa belt, particularly the district adjoining Sangrur. Patiala recorded 395 cases, Ferozepur 342, Bathinda 317 and Barnala recorded 278 cases on November 2.

As per figures, till November 2, the cases in Punjab are almost 25% more than the previous year. Last year, 17,921 cases were reported till date, while this time 21,480 cases have been reported. In 2020, a total of 36,725 cases were reported till November 2. The harvest is delayed this time because of the early rain in October.

Tarn Taran with 2,744 cases, Sangrur (2,721), Patiala (2,369), Amritsar (1,406) and Bathinda (1,197) are the worst-affected districts in the state. There is a major spike in Sangrur, Patiala, Barnala and other adjoining districts.

Ironically, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, instead of setting his house in order, has taken to attacking the Centre for which he called repeatedly targeting and blaming the Punjab farmers over stubble burning because of their protest against the now-repealed three farm laws.

He accused the BJP of seeking revenge from the farmers of Punjab who broke their “arrogance” with the year-long stir. “This is the reason why the Centre has been repeatedly asking us how many FIRs have been registered against the farmers for stubble burning. Why are only Punjab farmers being targeted?” he asked in a video message.

Mann’s scathing attack came a day after his government was targeted by the BJP for failing to control farm fires, asking it to wake up from its “deep slumber”.

Before the party came to power in the state in March this year, the AAP government in Delhi used to blame stubble fires in Punjab for pollution in the national capital, but it is now being attacked by rivals for not doing enough to tackle the problem. The number of farm fires this year has already crossed last year’s figures.

Referring to the air quality index of several areas of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, Mann said that it appears only Punjab and Delhi are spreading pollution whereas surrounding areas have become Switzerland. “I smell that politics is being played on the issue,” he claimed.

The chief minister also accused the Union government of not agreeing to its proposal of providing a cash incentive of Rs 2,500 per acre to farmers for not burning their paddy residue. “We asked the Union government to give Rs 1,500 per acre with Delhi and Punjab governments contributing Rs 500 per acre each, but the Centre did not agree. The central government is ready to take our paddy but shies away when it comes to paying them (farmers) for managing stubble.”

He claimed the central government had even declined the state government’s request of having plants and industries for treating crop residue. The CM said farmers do not want to set stubble on fire but they do it out of compulsion.

Bhagwant Mann has however been effectively countered by his Haryana counterpart, Manohar Lal Khattar. He said instead of resorting to blame game and counter-accusations over pollution being caused by stubble burning, Mann should “follow in Haryana’s footsteps” and incentivise farmers for stubble management.

He alleged that Maan is deliberately instigating the farmers and levelling false allegations against the Centre.

“He should chalk out a detailed strategy to tackle stubble management,” Khattar said in a statement. The CM said the incidents of stubble burning in Haryana have come down by 25% this year, while in Punjab the farm fires have increased by 20%. “On the pattern of Haryana, Punjab should also make arrangements for stubble management. A provision of giving an incentive of Rs 1,000 per acre has been made by the Haryana government to those who do not burn stubble,” Khattar said in a statement.

The CM said that AAP leaders first announce freebies and then expect help from the central government to fulfil their “fake promises.” “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal earlier blamed the farmers of Punjab and Haryana for the pollution in Delhi and now his entire blame game has shifted to Haryana only as his party has come to power in Punjab,” Khatttar said.

He said that the incidents of stubble burning are monitored by satellite and there is no doubt that the Punjab government has completely failed in farm fire management.

As the blame game continues on the issue, the common man of the region is left stranded to suffer from grave health complications because of choking pollution level.  Once the harvesting season ends and stubble burning is complete, the problem will be relegated to the back burner till next time.  And the public will have no option but to suffer silently.