With farmers continuing stubble burning in-spite of complete ban by the government air quality of as many as 13 districts across the state reported air quality index (AQI) in severe and very poor categories. Jind and Narnaul districts in the state were identified worst recorded index (AQI) of 480, followed by Faridabad (479), Gurugram (469), Rohtak (467) Bhiwani (466), Sirsa (462), Hisar (458), Kaithal (448), Ballabhgarh (438), Bahadurgarh (435), Manesar (427), Panipat (421) and Karnal (407), all under severe category.
The AQI is rated poor between 201 and 300, very poor between 301 and 400 and severe between 401 and 500. AQI is used by agencies to communicate to the people how polluted the air is. Public health risks increase as the AQI rises. Districts with very poor air quality include Fatehabad (393), Kurukshetra (383), Palwal (369), Ambala (350) and Yamunanagar (322). Mewat was rated as poor with AQI 235.
The number of stubble burning incidents in the state shot up to 4,340 so far as against 4,844 last year in the corresponding period. The number of farm fire incidents till Thursday was 4,288. Kaithal topped the list with 914 farm fire incidents followed by Karnal 893, Kurukshetra 694, Fatehabad 612, Ambala 317, Jind 226, Palwal and Sirsa, 194 each and Yamunanagar 186.
Information reveals that the number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab have reported 31932 by now and 335 FIRs have been registered against the farmers who violated Supreme Court of India directions as well as strictness by the Punjab government.
