30% y-on-y increase in farm fires in northern India, shows govt data

Paddy harvesting, which began roughly a fortnight ago, has resulted in a surge in cases of stubble burning-rising 30% between September 15 to October 4, compared to the corresponding period last year-according to centralised data from the agriculture ministrybacked Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

- Zia Haq

The federal agency is mandated to track the burning of crop residue in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, which causes an annual spell of toxic smog across north India during winters.

The national capital particularly witnesses severe levels of pollution and smoke from crop residue fires.