Ludhiana: As the Air Quality Index (AQI) in several parts of Delhi-NCR is reeling under the ‘severe’ category, nearly 560 cases of stubble burning have been reported in Ludhiana so far. A fine of about Rs 2 lakh 32 thousand has been imposed in 95 cases. In some cases, a red entry has also been filed. Apart from this, police cases have been registered on two occasions. District Ludhiana Chief Agriculture Officer Narendra Singh Benipal said,
This time there has been a 51 per cent reduction in the cases of stubble burning as compared to last year.
The Chief Agriculture Officer further said that on November 3 last year, 119 cases of stubble burning were reported, which has been reduced to 59 cases this year.
Mr Benipal added,
Similarly, till November 3 last year, 1144 cases of stubble burning were reported, which till now stands at 560 cases.
He said that the maximum number of stubble-burning cases are from the Jagraon subdistrict, which constitutes almost half of the figure. He said,
Four cases have come to light from the Khanna sub-district.
Mr Benipal said that it was a compulsion for them to take action. He added,
Farmers are being continuously directed so that they do not harm the quality of the soil by burning the stubble.
On the fourth consecutive day, the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘Severe’ category on Sunday though with a marginal dip in the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 410 against 504 on Saturday, as per System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India).
According to the data issued by SAFAR-India, the air quality in the Lodhi Road area was recorded at 385 (Very Poor) while at Delhi University area stands at 456 (Severe). ANI drone camera footage from the Qutub Minar area showed a thick layer of haze in the air.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
