Delhi is engulfed in the worst smog in 17 years. While everyone is blaming crackers to be the root cause of the heightened pollution levels in the national capital, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released images which reveal that burning of crops in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana could be the biggest reason contributing to the toxic air.
Releasing the pictures, NASA noted that Punjab has even more fires brewing than it did last week. “Last week’s image showed a large amount of fires in the area, but this week’s taken by the VIIRS instrument on Suomi NPP on November 01, 2016, shows at least twice as many fires in the same area. Red outlines show the approximate locations of active burning,” NASA stated.
Photo: NASA
Crop burning is an age-old practice used by farmers to clear out pests that eat crops. The process also facilitates turning crop residues from the previous season into fertilising ash. The “slash and burn” agriculture practice clears the field for the farmers but the smoke that rises, makes the adjoining areas like Delhi enveloped in clouds of thick toxic smog.
Punjab's crop burning over the last two weeks, mapped in one gif. #airpollution pic.twitter.com/eXSye3ynoO
— Anand Katakam (@anandkatakam) November 3, 2016
just unbelievable #fires & #PM values N #India No respite from #smog in #Delhi as crop burning continues #Punjab #Haryana & #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/gu34g64WEq
— sudhakar (@naidusudhakar) November 4, 2016
In a review meeting held with secretaries of NCR states, Union Environment Secretary AN Jha said crop burning has been controlled in almost all states except Punjab where large-scale burning has been reported. Various issues related to air pollution, including crop burning, dust pollution, pollution from landfill sites, building construction, vehicular pollution, industrial pollution were also taken up for discussion in the meeting.
The National Green Tribunal also come down heavily on the Centre and Delhi government for not taking steps to tackle the alarming air pollution level. “What a “terrible” future are we giving to our children,” the NGT questioned the Centre and AAP government and pulled them up for “shifting blame” over the alarming air pollution level in Delhi.
Though the government has suggested alternative methods and support in order to encourage farmers to give crop burning a miss, farmers claim the options being made available are unfeasible.
But as the State and Centre battle it out, the ones facing the heat of the air pollution are the people living in the national capital. An increasing number of people have been hospitals for breathing issues, some are even resorting to taking steps like moving out of the capital till pollution levels are brought under control.
Meanwhile, civic authorities have ordered all MCD schools in Delhi to be closed on Saturday in view of pollution.
