Satellite images released by NASA show brazen stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana (Representative Image) | Photo Credit: BCCL

New Delhi: Despite warnings and a direct order from the Supreme Court of India, farmers in Punjab and Haryana continued to practice stubble burning. Even as the quality of air in Delhi-NCR continues to deteriorate with every passing second, farmers in neighbouring states burnt straw stubble which is left after grains like wheat and others have been harvested, show satellite pictures released by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Delhi environment minister Imran Hussein while addressing media personnel on Wednesday said that claims made by the ruling dispositions in Punjab and Haryana have fallen flat. "The latest photographs from NASA prove it beyond doubt," said Hussein referring to widespread stubble burning across states neighbouring Delhi-NCR. He also claimed that the present condition in northern India is less likely to favour the distribution of pollutants owing to factors such as low wind speed and moderate ventilation index.

(Satellite images released by NASA)

Farmers of the states in question burn the residue of the straw which remains after the grains are harvested because they find it to be a cheaper alternative to Straw Management System (SMS) which is a measure suggested by several think tanks and other experts. This practice led to 40,000 crop residue burning incidents being recorded in Punjab and 25,000 of them being recorded in Haryana.

Latest satellite images show crop residue burning at dangerous levels



Environment Minister @ImranHussaain releases latest NASA image of North India, Crop residue burning must be immediately halted otherwise entire north India will suffer. pic.twitter.com/vm9snZRXMP — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 17, 2018

It is needless to say that widespread stubble burning coupled with the upcoming festival of Diwali and air pollution caused by industrial waste among other factors will only contribute to Delhi's worsening air quality. If stubble burning is not controlled, the national capital of our country is likely to turn into a 'gas chamber' as stated by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier this year.

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