Experts tell what North India can learn from South India in alleviating smog

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how to mitigate smog in north India, especially in Delhi-NCR rules the headlines. Several environmentalists and experts have suggested numerous solutions to reduce pollution in Delhi-NCR. The Delhi government has also taken stringent measures to alleviate smog in the region.

Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) witnesses paddy stubble burning to clear fields for the sowing of wheat crops. Delhi wakes up to a blanket of smog today, AQI ‘very poor’ Last week, Punjab reported 512 farm fires.

This year between 15 September and 22 November, the state recorded 36,118 cases of farm fires so far. The state had reported 70,945 and 49,604 stubble burning incidents in the corresponding period of 2021 and 2022, respectively. ‘Take cue from Haryana’: SC raps Punjab govt on not curbing stubble burning Environmentalists have argued that the most harmful method to treat crop residue, that is stubble, is burning.

However, the tight window between rice harvesting and wheat planting has compelled farmers in the Indo-Gigantic plains to resort to stubble burning. The stubble burning causes loss of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium oxide, sulphur, and micronutrients. In a report in Down to Earth, agricultural scientist KT Gangadhar has recommended a few suggestions, implemented by farmers in south India to treat stubble.