Haryana Ranks Third in Crop Residue Burning in India, Satellite Data Reveals

Haryana: The issue of stubble burning continues to pose significant environmental challenges in India, and despite ongoing efforts at both the central and state levels, the problem persists without substantial progress. A recent report released by the Consortium for Research on Agro-Ecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) highlights alarming statistics regarding crop residue burning across six states.

Crop Residue Burning Statistics
The report details that from 2019 to 2023, a total of 387,946 cases of stubble burning were recorded across 255 districts in these states. Haryana has been identified as the third highest state for stubble burning incidents, with 46,545 cases documented. Punjab tops the list with 291,629 incidents, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh with 46,545 cases as well. This emphasizes the pressing need for effective measures to combat this issue, especially as over 75% of the country’s stubble burning incidents occur in Punjab alone.

Comparison of States
Other states reported significantly lower incidents, with Uttar Pradesh logging 20,114 cases, Rajasthan 6,149, and Delhi just 28 incidents. The data indicates a troubling trend, as the problem of stubble burning not only affects local air quality but also has far-reaching implications for climate change and public health.

Yearly Trends in Stubble Burning
The report outlines a yearly breakdown of stubble burning cases in Haryana, showing a decline from 6,328 incidents in 2019 to 2,303 in 2023. In comparison, Punjab’s figures have fluctuated significantly, with the highest reported in 2020 at 83,002 cases, dropping to 36,663 in 2023. This data suggests that while some progress is being made in reducing stubble burning, substantial work remains to be done.
The ongoing collection of satellite data by CREAMS, particularly from September 15 to November 30 each year, is crucial for monitoring and addressing the issue. As states work to implement better agricultural practices and raise awareness about the environmental impact of stubble burning, collaboration between government bodies, farmers, and researchers will be essential in finding sustainable solutions.