SATISH HANDA
In-spite of tall claims by the government in Haryana and Punjab taking stern action against farmers burning paddy crop wastes in open, 687 burn cases has been reported in Haryana and 886 burn cases in Punjab in past 24 hours severely polluting environments in the states as well in adjoining states causing lot of inconvenience to residents causing respiratory problems and burning in eyes.
Information reveals, in past 24 hours 211 cases of burning paddy crop waste in open has been reported in Haryana which include maximum number of 211burning cases in Karnal followed by 135 cases in Kaithal, 124 cases in Kurukshetra, 51 cases in Fatehabad, 41 cases in Jind, 34 cases in Ambala, 28 cases in Yamunanagar, 22 cases in Panipat, 19 cases in Faridabad, 9 cases in Sirsa, 8 cases in Sonepat, 2 cases in Hisar and one case each in Bhiwani and Gurugram district.
According to information, similarly in case of Punjab state in past 24 hours maximum number of 338 paddy crop waste burning cases in open has been reported in Amritsar, 138 cases in Bhatinda, 107 cases in Patiala, 72 cases in Gurdaspur, 52 cases in Ludhiana, 51 cases in Ferozpur, 48 cases in Fatehgarh Sahib, 45 cases in Jalandhar, 33 cases in Kapurthala, 26 cases in Faridkot, 16 cases in Moga, and 13 cases in Hoshiarpur district has been reported.
According to State Pollution Control Board Haryana AQI up to 50 micro gram (MG) per square meter in the atmosphere is not harmful, AQI between 51-100 MG is satisfactory, AQI between 101-200 MG is safe, AQI between 201-300 MG is harmful, AQI between 301-400 MG is very harmful and AQI above 401 MG is serious extremely harmful for health causing several health disorders including respiratory problems and heart diseases. Haryana State Pollution Control Board has recorded 260 MW AQI at Ballabhgarh, 236 MW AQI at Yamunanagar, 222 MG AQI at Rohtak and JInd, 220 MG AQI at Fatehabad, 211 MG AQI at Hisar and 195 MG AQI at Gurugram at present.
The impact of pollution is generally more during late evening hours due to movement of automobiles releasing smoke, smoke coming out from diesel generating sets and chimneys in industrial towns. According to state agriculture department as many as 41 cases of violating directions not to burn crop waste in open by the farmers has been registered on which fine for Rs 70,000 has been imposed on farmers in past 24 hours.
