The court has noted that despite these efforts, air pollution still exists in Delhi. While Delhi’s extremely hazardous air is receiving a lot of attention due to a number of contributing causes, sections of Punjab are seeing an alarming decline in air quality as a result of the high frequency of farm fires during the paddy harvesting season.
Source: Business Today
Punjab, the state that grows the most paddy, and Madhya Pradesh, which is headed for elections, have both reported the most field fires this season. States don’t want to offend farmers by punishing them for lighting their crops on fire because the Lok Sabha elections are just six months away.
Unfortunately, even as efforts to encourage farmers to stop burning stubble have been, at best, mediocre, electoral considerations are displacing environmental and health concerns.
Source: WION
While millions of people, including farmers, are being exposed to contaminated air, the CAQM’s claim that the number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana over a 45-day period (September 15 to October 29) has decreased by roughly 56% and 40%, respectively, from the same period previous year, is not very comforting.
Humans can develop cancer from air pollution, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a WHO-affiliated specialty cancer agency. One of the main environmental causes of cancer-related mortality has been found to be the health risk. The Malwa region of Punjab is already facing a high cancer case incidence rate. It is a sign of abdication of responsibility to rely on favourable weather to bring relief from the oppressive air. All parties involved need to approach the issue like a war.
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