Air quality in various parts of Punjab has deteriorated to moderate levels, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The situation is attributed to ongoing farm fires in the region. The CPCB measures air quality at six locations across the state, with Bathinda recording the worst air quality at an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191 on October 6.
On October 6, several cities in Punjab reported moderate AQI levels. Mandi Gobindgarh had an AQI of 165, Rupnagar at 130, Patiala at 120, Ludhiana at 111, and Khanna at 110. Only two cities, Amritsar and Jalandhar, out of eight continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) in the state, maintained 'satisfactory' AQI levels.
The increase in farm fires has contributed to the worsening air quality in the region. On October 6 alone, the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) detected 91 new cases of farm fires, bringing the total for the harvesting season to 845.
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The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, with different categories indicating air quality levels. A range of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 is satisfactory, 101 to 200 is moderate, 201 to 300 is poor, 301 to 400 is very poor, and 401 to 500 is severe. The 'moderate' category can lead to minor breathing discomfort for sensitive individuals, while 'satisfactory' air quality causes only minor breathing issues.
Many farmers in southwest Punjab have not yet begun full-scale harvesting of non-basmati rice varieties, contributing to the persistence of farm fires. Authorities are working to enforce fines on farmers found burning stubble to combat the issue.
The ongoing situation highlights the need for sustainable agricultural practices and measures to mitigate the impact of farm fires on air quality in the region.
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