NHRC wants a thorough report from Punjab on stubble burning as air quality, especially in Delhi, Punjab turns severe
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday held a high-level review meeting via video conference with Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua and state government officials concerned about the air quality regarding the increasing air pollution and sought a detailed report on the stubble burning in the state.
As the poor air quality has become a huge concern in many cities with its serious health hazards, the commission told the Punjab government officials that incidents of stubble burning should be strictly curtailed. The NHRC warned that if the situation did not improve soon, a heavy penalty would be imposed on Punjab.
According to an official release, the NHRC voiced strong concern over stubble burning cases in North India, especially in Punjab as the air quality has turned ‘severe’ in many cities and has been affecting the health of the people as well as putting seriously impacting on those with existing illnesses.
On this occasion, the Commission reviewed the cases related to stubble management in Punjab from the Chief Secretary and also sought some data in this regard.
The Chief Secretary said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the entire machinery of the state is putting efforts to reduce the incidence of stubble burning this year, and farmers are being encouraged and made aware not to burn stubble.
The Chief Secretary said that every week a meeting is held with all Deputy Commissioners and higher officials of Punjab for stubble management so that effective measures can be taken to prevent stubble burning.
The Chief Secretary said that more focus has been given by the authorities to those hot spots in the villages where the cases of farm fires were detected in the previous years.
Apart from this, a senior IAS officer has been placed in charge of each 23 districts of the state and they have been directed to work at the grass root level to closely review the stubble management and prevent stubble burning cases, the Chief Secretary said.
The Chief Secretary appealed to the farmers not to burn stubble under any circumstances for the healthy future of children and youth and to cooperate with the government for its management.
Overall air quality in the national capital continued in the ‘very poor’ category as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 303 at 6.30 am on Friday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). On Thursday at around the same time, the AQI was recorded at 176.
Delhi’s Air Pollution
The AQI in Delhi is equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes a day, detrimental to normal lungs and fatal for weak lungs and harmful for the elderly and children.
Air pollution in India is calculated to kill about 2 million people every year; it is the fifth largest killer in India. India has the world’s highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma, according to the WHO. Delhi is considered the most polluted city in the world with air that damages the lungs of 2.2 million or 50 percent of all children.
All the warnings and talks to reduce pollution have not worked and remains a worrying concern in India.