CPCB: Stubble burning increased from last year

New Delhi: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) led Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) taskforce, highlighted that cases of stubble burning has increased, compared to last year.

The data revealed by the agency showed both Punjab and Haryana witnessing a two fold increase in crop burning cases.

According to the data, cases of stubble burning in Punjab was 1198 in 2018, which increased to 1631 in 2019.

On the other hand, Haryana that witnessed about 1346 cases in 2018, saw an increase of 1571 cases in 2019 till now. "We will share all this data with the Delhi government as well," said Prashant Bhargava, Member Secretary at

CPCB.

Stubble burning has been the fore-front issue in the national Capital's air pollution, with the state government alleging that more than 60 percent of the pollution has been coming from crop burning.

However, speaking to the Millennium Post about the data, Environmentalist Vikrant Tongad said, "Burning cases have just started a while back, only. We witness an increase in air pollution, especially in Winter due to scientific reasons. But it is our neglect for the same air pollution the entire year that has created the issue. Just because it is visible more in Winter doesn't mean it's not there other days."

Talking about stubble burning Tongad mentioned that this year more harvesting has taken place than other years.

"NASA in its report has also said that there has been a record in the growing of padding in Punjab and Haryana," he added.

If this is the case, Tongad added, that more burning will take place as well. Besides stubble burning, other issues were also discussed in the review meeting.

CPCB also recommended private and government offices in Delhi and NCR to allow employees to work from home and advised people to carpool to commute to and from

work.

It also asked schools to provide their own transport to children and discouraged the use of private

vehicles.

This advisory will be sent out to Delhi and the neighbouring towns of Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida and Faridabad.