Fires are down in Punjab but most being lit at dusk
Stubble burning in Punjab has decreased overall, but farmers have shifted the practice to evening hours to avoid detection. This change in timing is driven by the need to evade satellite monitoring and ground-based officials.
The practice of burning agricultural residue in Punjab has seen a notable reduction in total volume compared to previous years. However, data indicates a significant shift in the timing of these fires. Instead of burning crops during the day, farmers are increasingly choosing to light fires at dusk. This strategic change allows them to complete the burning process before the next day's inspections begin, effectively hiding the activity from routine monitoring efforts.
The primary motivation behind this timing shift is the advanced surveillance technology deployed by authorities. Satellites and ground-based officials use specific time windows to identify and document illegal burning. By operating in the late evening, farmers aim to beat the detection systems. The darkness provides a cover that makes it difficult for visual inspections and certain satellite passes to capture the extent of the fire, allowing the residue to be cleared without immediate penalty.
This adaptation highlights the ongoing tension between agricultural practices and environmental regulations in the region. While the total number of fires has dropped, the persistence of the practice at night suggests that the underlying economic and logistical pressures on farmers remain unchanged. Authorities are now faced with the challenge of extending their monitoring capabilities to cover these new time windows to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
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