SATISH HANDA

Red alert has been declared in five districts in Haryana state Panipat, Hisar, Jind,  Fatehabad and Charkhi Dadri witnessed drastic rise in Air Quality Index (AQI) in past one week harmful for residents in the area. Total number of 11 districts in the state has been identified dangerous for health due to heavy pollution in the environments as a result of farmers burning crop remains in open in their agriculture fields. Another six districts declared dangerous for the health include Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kaithal, Rohtak and Yamunanagar districts where AQI was recorded between 254 to 288.

According to health department in the state, in case AQI ranges AQI ranges between 0-50 there will be no affect on the health. In case AQI ranges between 51-100 leaves no serious affect on health.  In case AQI in the atmosphere ranges between101-200 AQI it may prove harmful for the health to some extent causing infection in lungs and one may feel other disorders like suffering from Asthma, heart disorders and respiratory problems. However, to remain in the atmosphere having AQI ranging between 201-300 for a long time causes suffering from respiratory system as well as heart diseases. In case AQI level ranges between 301-400 may leaver very harmful affect on lungs, heart and respiratory system in the body. In case AQI varies between 401-500 it is extremely harmful for a patient suffering from lungs or a heart problem to remain in such environments for a long time and even becomes difficult for a healthy person to have proper respiration and extremely harmful for new born babies.

Apart from burning crop wastes, smoke coming out of industrial chimneys, diesel generating sets, automobiles and stone crushers also adversely affect environments. Now Haryana state government has decided to purchase paddy and wheat crop remains from the farmers paying Rs 50 each quintal. Information reveals, nearly 60 lakh ton paddy and wheat crop remains are burnt in open in Haryana state every year polluting the environments. However, according to state government information fall in the cases regarding burning crops waste has been recorded in past three years due to stern action against the violators. In the year 2017 Haryana state recorded 12800 burning cases, which dropped to 10571 in the year 2018 and the number of such burning cases further dropped to 6862 in the year 2019. According to official information, 1390 crop waste burning cases has been reported between September 25 to October 14, 2020 and fast increase in such burning cases has been reported in six days recently, which include 74 burning cases reported on October 8, 101 burning cases on October 9, 64 burning cases reported on October 10, 111 burning cases reported on October 11, 47 burning cases reported on October 12 and 72 burning cases reported on October 13.