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| Senior pollution officer Krunesh Garg said several months ago some 1,265 farmers were fined in Punjab alone but satellite detectors recorded around 12,000 fires in the state (Photo from MoneyControl Website) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Delhi's smog crisis headed for a new toxic peak on Saturday (Oct 24) but farmers are refusing to stop the stubble burning that is widely blamed for the poisonous clouds engulfing the Indian capital.
Air pollution in parts of the city reached "severe" levels on Saturday - a day after US President Donald Trump described Indian air as "filthy" - with monitoring agencies warning it would worsen in the next two days because of the lack of wind. Teams in states around Delhi, 20 million people, are hunting the illegal stubble burners, even driving around country roads at night when most fires are started.
Senior pollution officer Krunesh Garg said several months ago some 1,265 farmers were fined in Punjab alone but satellite detectors recorded around 12,000 fires in the state. The government is offering subsidized machines to clear rice paddies and farmers who are caught starting fires are blocked for bank loans. Because of Delhi's position and weather pattern, every winter the city is choked by deadly smog. According to state air quality monitors, farm fire smoke accounted for 56 percent of Delhi's pollution in 2018 and 44 percent last year. Some experts say the worsening smog is because of the number of cars on the roads, construction, and industry around the city.
