18/11/2019
Air pollution in North India linked to heart attack, stroke, also a very strong correlation between stubble burning and aqi dip :
The study shows that people most exposed to fine particles have a higher CIMT index (carotid intima-media thickness) -- a marker of atherosclerosis -- which means they are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart attack.
Following the Supreme Court guideline to incentivise farmers for stopping the burning of paddy crop stubble to check air pollution, the governments of Punjab and Haryana have announced a bonus of Rs 2,500 an acre for small and marginal farmers who are yet to start such activity.
Farmer groups say the incentives could have prevented farmers from burning stubble if it had come on time. More, they want the incentive to be a permanent feature.
In Punjab, so far, around 48,000 incidents of farm fires have been reported this year, higher than last year. It was less in Haryana and UP. The total area under paddy in Punjab is around three million hectares, of which straw management is required on around two million. In the remaining areas, farmers have own arrangements for straw management. The state produces around 20 million tonnes of paddy straw each year.
In Haryana, the area under paddy usually is 1.3 million hectares, from which around 12 million tonnes of straw is produced every year.
“We feel the incentives announced by the state governments have come quite late in the day and would have made some impact if the decision was made some months back. Also, the compensation should not be restricted to small and marginal farmers — in Punjab, there are many who take 8-10 acres on rent and they won’t come under this,”
A very strong correlation can be seen between stubble burning and the spike in air pollution in North India. As soon as stubble burning began in the first week of Oct, the AQI started rising. Now that burning is coming to an end, air quality is also improving'"
"AQI levels dip to below 200 (Moderate level) in most parts of Delhi, exactly as farm fires reduce to a handful in Punjab, Haryana and UP.
The stubble burning has stopped and with it, the air quality in Delhi has improved. A few people say that stubble burning contributes only 5 per cent to air pollution in Delhi. So with reduction of only 5 per cent, has the air quality index improved from over 500 to 200? Rather than doing politics on pollution, there is a need to address the issue together with good intentions.
I believe if this incentive becomes permanent and given in September every year to all the Punjab, haryana farmers they will not resort to stubble burning and save their and ours lungs and lives
