As Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was registered at a dismal 309 on 27th October, falling into the “very poor” category, the Haryana government released a satellite image from NASA holding Punjab responsible for the same.
On Friday, Delhi's air quality deteriorated, falling into the "very poor" category and registering an AQI of 309. The deteriorating air quality index in the city is expected to be exacerbated by crop residue or stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana.@Gurpreet_Chhina… pic.twitter.com/dped7JIsrV
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 27, 2023
Haryana and Punjab are at loggerheads yet again over the issue of stubble burning which is considered one of the key causes behind Delhi and National Capital Region’s (NCR) deteriorating air quality.
The Haryana government has shared the satellite images claiming that the stubble burning in neighouring Punjab is responsible for the bad air quality in Delhi and NCR. Both the states have reportedly claimed to have recorded a significant drop in farm fires.
But the images from NASA show significant farm fires in Punjab. The images were taken on 25th and 26th October showing a cluster of red dots, indicating a rise in stubble burning.
Speaking on the same, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Jawahar Yadav said that Arvind Kejriwal’s silence about the NASA data creates suspicion.
#WATCH | Gurugram, Haryana: On NASA satellite images showing stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s OSD (Officer on Special Duty) Jawahar Yadav says, "There is data from NASA of October 25 and 26, which clearly shows where there is stubble burning in Punjab… pic.twitter.com/L9h6LVIYbs
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023
He said, “There is data from NASA of October 25 and 26, which clearly shows where there is stubble burning in Punjab and in Haryana… More than double stubble burning has occurred in Punjab as compared to Haryana. The Haryana government has brought it down…The silence of Arvind Kejriwal about the NASA data creates suspicion. He has alleged that Indian agencies are not giving data on pollution… Why does he need it now?… The Punjab government has failed, and Arvind Kejriwal’s face has been exposed in front of the public…”
Times Now citing official data claimed that Haryana has seen a 36 per cent decline in farm fires this year. According to the National Green Tribunal, stubble burning in Punjab around autumn was among the “biggest contributors” to pollution in NCR.
“The period when stubble burning takes place is mainly between September 15 to November 30. Hence, during this period, the concerned authorities are required to be vigilant in identifying the violators, and in taking remedial measures, including imposition of a penalty,” the NGT said while hearing a petition.
On 25th October, Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi said that there was no official data available that could tell the different sources contributing to the pollution in Delhi. Notably, many times in the past, AAP leaders including Atishi and Arvind Kejriwal have blamed the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana for the pollution in Delhi.
