Burning crop waste in Punjab in India, Pak adding to smog: Nasa

[Jlaw]

Burning crop waste in Punjab in India, Pak adding to smog: Nasa
Chetan Chauhan , Hindustan Times New Delhi, November 07, 2013

First Published: 00:52 IST(7/11/2013) | Last Updated: 07:46 IST(7/11/2013)

Burning of agricultural waste in Punjab in India and Pakistan in the last one week may be the reason behind the thick smog that has engulfed entire northern India, according to new satellite images released by Nasa.

Latest photographs released by US satellite agency showed hundreds of fire hot-spots (in red) across Punjab in India and Pakistan on October 27 and on November 5 confirming local pollution is not the reason for heavy smog.

Nasa in a statement on its website posted on Wednesday said: “When combined with smoke, such hotspots identify actively burning fires…Clustering of fires in this region is a common phenomenon each fall.”

The farmers in this region burn the waste from autumn or kharif crop while preparing land for plating the spring or rabi crop. “Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants. While fire helps enhance crops and grass for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality,” Nasa said.

A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) official said low disbursal of pollutants because of weak westerly winds had prevented the smoke to disburse into the colder Himalayan region.

The particulate matter levels in most cities of the region was about three to four times of the national air quality standard on Tuesday morning, which further increased during the day with vehicular traffic increasing after a two-day Diwali break.

Agra in Uttar Pradesh saw the particulate matter level reaching about 360 micro grams in a cubic meter of air while it was 260 ug/m3 in Lucknow.

Based on inputs from the weather department, the CPCB believes the pollution levels in northern India will remain on a higher side for few days.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...pak-adding-to-smog-nasa/article1-1148086.aspx

 

[third eye]

A live problem in N India. One is feeling its effect these days coupled with the fireworks of Diwali.

 

[IndoUS]

So we are still using burning as the method of clearing the unwanted crop. Anyone know if there is another method that can be used in place of this?

 

[Levina]

As far as i know it is done to restore fertility of the soil and in uncontrolling the pests.So as long as these farmers dont find an alternaive they might continue doing so


PS:
To members who will come here defending their countries ahem ahem...please read the report again.The hot-spots are located across Punjab in India and Pakistan.
Soooooo

 

[Kompromat]

Burning crops trend in Pakistan has declined sharply as people now a days plough the field with rotavators after the harvest.

 

[third eye]

So we are still using burning as the method of clearing the unwanted crop. Anyone know if there is another method that can be used in place of this?

Its not the unwanted crop.

With reduced availability of farm labour most farmers used harvesting combines , this leaves the stalk behind in the field.

Instead of manually plucking this , farmers burn them. Besides aiding removal it also helps in soil fertility.

 

[Ayush]

and diwali too

 

[[Bregs]]

Despite being an offence and banned this practice of burning agriculture waste goes on blatantly

 

[third eye]

Despite being an offence and banned this practice of burning agriculture waste goes on blatantly

Arre..

Even dowry, murder and cheating are offences.

When have we Indians bothered for the law and when has the law bothered us on these things ?

 

[[Bregs]]

Arre..

Even dowry, murder and cheating are offences.

When have we Indians bothered for the law and when has the law bothered us on these things ?

True.....