DNA Edit: Come October - There is need to move on air pollution before winter sets

Approaching winters is the harbinger of air pollution. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), mostly out of news during the course of the year, is back. It has directed the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to set up special cells to monitor pollution caused by burning of paddy straw burning.

It said the problem of air pollution caused by burning of crop residue cannot be dealt with, unless effective measures are adopted. The court expects states to file their status reports by October 15.

This month is crucial as most of the paddy harvest will be done in 7-10 days from now, when farmers resort to the burning of paddy straw as the easiest possible method to dispose of farm waste. Last year, the number of cases of stubble fires reported in these states was over 50,000, an increase over 2017.

However, the area that was set on fire had dropped by 10%. In the current season 290 cases of fire have been reported since September 15, when the harvest of basmati began.

The practice is common in the autumn season when fields need to be quickly cleared of summer harvests to make way for winter crop sowing. The problem has been complicated this year. Farm fires recorded in Punjab and Haryana have forced officials in the three states to consider measures such as staggered office timings and impounding of old harvesting machines in a bid to improve air quality crisis.

The first of the farm fires come less than a week after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that the two states cannot fine farmers for burning crop residue. Clearly, a mighty tussle between the farmers, authorities and courts is on the cards ahead.