In a bid to address the persistent problem of farm fires and their impact on air quality, India’s government is introducing a new method of monitoring agricultural burning. The focus will now shift from tracking live farm fires to measuring the total area of land burned. This change comes after reports suggested that some farmers in Punjab and Haryana have adjusted their stubble-burning practices to avoid detection by satellites.

On November 22, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a government body responsible for overseeing air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR), announced the development of a new protocol in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The protocol aims to map burnt areas using satellite imagery, providing a more comprehensive assessment of agricultural fires.

“This protocol has been developed and is currently undergoing testing,” said Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati during a Supreme Court hearing. The announcement followed concerns raised by a court-appointed adviser that the current system relied on satellite data with limited coverage periods.

The present monitoring system uses data from NASA satellites that pass over Punjab and Haryana twice daily. However, this approach has been criticized for its inability to capture fires that occur outside these specific time windows.

Experts believe that farmers have become aware of the limitations of the current monitoring system and may be timing their stubble burning to evade detection. While the recorded number of fires this year appears lower, pollution levels have remained alarmingly high, suggesting that the problem persists but evades capture.

“Farmers might be burning stubble during times when satellites are not overhead,” said an environmental scientist familiar with the monitoring process. This phenomenon has prompted the government to seek alternatives to live fire counts, such as analyzing burnt areas over a longer timeframe.

The use of data from stationary satellites was also proposed but dismissed by the government as “suboptimal” and “not actionable.” This decision reflects the complexity of balancing technological solutions with on-ground realities.

Each winter, Delhi and the NCR are engulfed in a toxic haze caused by a combination of factors, including vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and farm fires. The practice of burning paddy stubble—a cost-effective way for farmers to clear fields—remains a major contributor to the smog.

On Monday, November 20, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) soared to 494 on a scale of 500, classified as “severe.” On the same day, farm fires peaked at 2,893 in Punjab and Haryana, further exacerbating pollution levels.

Authorities responded by implementing emergency measures, including restrictions on vehicle movement, halting construction activities, and shifting schools to online learning. Despite these efforts, the air quality in Delhi remained “very poor” on Friday, with an AQI of 374, and forecasts suggest it will stay within the 300-400 range throughout the week.

Air pollution in South Asia, including India, is a public health crisis. Studies indicate that prolonged exposure to toxic air can reduce life expectancy in the region by over five years. The health impacts are particularly severe during the winter months when cold air traps pollutants close to the ground.

India classifies AQI levels:

• 0-50: Good
• 51-100: Satisfactory
• 101-200: Moderate
• 201-300: Poor
• 301-400: Very Poor
• 401-500: Severe

An AQI above 400 poses significant health risks even to healthy individuals and can be life-threatening for those with pre-existing conditions.

India is not alone in battling hazardous air. Neighboring countries in South Asia, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, also face severe pollution during winter. The combination of agricultural fires, industrial emissions, and natural weather patterns creates a perfect storm for smog formation across the region.

In addition to stubble burning, urban sources of pollution such as diesel generators, vehicular traffic, and coal-based power plants contribute to deteriorating air quality. Governments across the region are under increasing pressure to implement sustainable solutions.

The government’s new protocol represents a significant step toward addressing the challenge of farm fires. By analyzing burnt areas rather than relying solely on live fire counts, authorities hope to gain a more accurate understanding of the scale and timing of agricultural burning.

However, tackling this issue requires more than just technological advancements. 

• Subsidizing Alternatives: Farmers need affordable alternatives to stubble burning, such as mechanized stubble removal or converting crop waste into biofuels and fertilizers.
• Regulation and Enforcement: Stringent penalties for stubble burning, coupled with effective enforcement, can deter the practice.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating farmers and the general public about the health and environmental consequences of stubble burning is crucial.
• Regional Cooperation: Given the transboundary nature of air pollution, collaboration between South Asian countries is essential to develop regional strategies.

While the government’s new initiative is promising, its success will depend on swift implementation and coordination among various stakeholders, including state governments, farmers, and environmental organizations. The Supreme Court has urged the central and state governments to take decisive action to address the pollution crisis, emphasizing the need for innovative and sustained efforts.

Delhi’s residents, who endure toxic air each winter, are eagerly awaiting tangible improvements. As India tests its new protocol for monitoring burnt areas, the hope is that this approach will lead to more accurate data and, ultimately, more effective solutions to combat farm fires and their devastating impact on air quality.

India’s battle against air pollution is a complex and multi-faceted challenge. While the shift to measuring burnt areas represents progress, addressing the root causes of pollution will require a combination of technology, policy, and collective will. The stakes are high—not just for the environment but for the health and well-being of millions.