Punjab Farmers Burn Fields, Contributing to Delhi's Severe Smog Crisis

Farm Fires in Punjab

• 🧑‍🌾 Farmers in Punjab, India, are torching their fields to prepare for the upcoming sowing season.
• 💨 This practice contributes significantly to the smog that engulfs New Delhi and its 30 million residents.

Reasons for Stubble Burning

• 💰 Many farmers claim they are forced to burn stubble due to the unaffordability of tractors needed to clear fields.
• ⏳ Farmers also face a narrow window to sow wheat, making timely field preparation crucial.
• ⚠️ While aware of health risks, the economic and time constraints drive the practice.

Government Response and Challenges

• 🚫 Despite years of government crackdowns, farmers like Dar Singh continue to burn fields.
• 🚜 Authorities have provided machinery, but a gap remains in meeting all farmers' needs for field clearing.
• 🏙️ New Delhi has imposed stricter anti-pollution measures as air quality has deteriorated to severe levels.

Winter Smog in Delhi

• 🌬️ Delhi and surrounding districts are frequently covered in smog during winter.
• 🚗 Cold, dense air traps emissions from vehicles, construction, and crop burning, leading to some of the world's highest pollution levels.