Increasing incidents of stubble burning in UP and Rajasthan

05-Nov-2024 04:14 PM

New Delhi. Although there has been a huge reduction in the cases of stubble burning at the national level, its incidence is increasing in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to the available data, the total number of incidents of stubble burning (the lower part of the paddy plant) between 15 September and 3 November this year could reach only 9730, which was about 53 percent less than last year's 20,728.

This reduction has come especially in Punjab and Haryana. On the other hand, the number of cases in Uttar Pradesh increased by 17 percent from last year's 1102 to 1288 this time and in Rajasthan it increased by 9 percent from 982 to 1072.

Data from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa shows that during 15 September to 3 November in Punjab, the total incidents of crop residue burning in Punjab reached only 4132, which was 68 percent less than the total number of 12813 in the same period last year.

In Punjab, cases of stubble burning were reported in about 4.60 lakh hectares of area, out of which one-third area was in three districts - Patiala, Amritsar and Ludhiana, whose total area was 1.53 lakh hectares.

Similarly, in Haryana, incidents of crop stubble burning fell by 38 percent from 1372 last year to only 857 this time. On the other hand, in Madhya Pradesh too, its number fell by 47 percent from 4457 to 2369 this year.

It is worth noting that paddy harvesting starts earlier in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. There is a vigorous harvesting of the crop in October which continues till November.