Centre States Farm Fires Have 'Episodic' Impact on Delhi-NCR Air Quality
Centre tells SC that farm fires in Punjab/Haryana have an episodic, not continuous, impact on Delhi-NCR air quality.
Photo by Dibakar Roy
Quick Revision
Centre's statement to SC.
Farm fires have "episodic" impact on Delhi-NCR air quality.
Other factors like vehicular, industrial emissions, dust also contribute.
Key Numbers
Visual Insights
Delhi-NCR Air Quality: Geographic Context of Farm Fires
This map illustrates the proximity of major stubble burning states (Punjab, Haryana) to the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), highlighting the transboundary nature of air pollution. The Union government's statement emphasizes that while farm fires have an 'episodic' impact, their geographical proximity makes them a significant contributor during specific periods.
Loading interactive map...
Exam Angles
Environment and Ecology: Air pollution, sources, impacts, mitigation.
Governance: Role of central and state governments, inter-state coordination, statutory bodies (CAQM), policy implementation.
Economy: Economic implications of agricultural practices (stubble burning), cost of alternatives, impact on health and productivity.
Science & Technology: Air quality monitoring, pollution control technologies, agricultural machinery for stubble management.
View Detailed Summary
Summary
Background
Latest Developments
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region: 1. The Union government has stated that farm fires in Punjab and Haryana have an 'episodic' impact on Delhi-NCR air quality. 2. Vehicular emissions and industrial pollution are considered continuous contributors to air pollution in Delhi-NCR. 3. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body established to coordinate efforts for air quality management in the Delhi-NCR region and adjoining areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statement 1 is correct, as per the news article, the Union government informed the Supreme Court about the 'episodic' nature of farm fires' impact. Statement 2 is correct; vehicular emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, and domestic burning are indeed continuous and significant contributors to air pollution in the region. Statement 3 is also correct; CAQM was established as a statutory body in 2021 to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR and its surrounding areas, replacing the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).
2. In the context of India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. NCAP aims to achieve a 20% to 30% reduction in particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations by 2024, compared to 2017 levels. 2. It is a statutory program implemented under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, with legally binding targets for cities. 3. The program focuses exclusively on reducing industrial emissions and does not cover vehicular or domestic pollution sources. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statement 1 is correct. The initial target of NCAP, launched in 2019, was indeed to achieve a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024, with 2017 as the base year. Statement 2 is incorrect. NCAP is a programmatic approach, not a statutory program with legally binding targets. It provides a framework for cities to improve air quality. Statement 3 is incorrect. NCAP adopts a multi-sectoral approach, addressing various sources of pollution including industrial, vehicular, domestic, and construction dust, among others.
3. Assertion (A): Despite government efforts, stubble burning remains a significant practice in states like Punjab and Haryana during post-harvest periods. Reason (R): The short window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing, coupled with the high cost and limited availability of alternative stubble management machinery, compels farmers to burn stubble. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
- B.Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- C.A is true but R is false.
- D.A is false but R is true.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Assertion (A) is true. Stubble burning continues to be a major issue despite various government interventions. Reason (R) is also true and correctly explains A. Farmers face a very narrow timeframe (typically 15-20 days) between harvesting paddy and preparing fields for wheat sowing. Manual removal or alternative machinery (like Happy Seeder, Super Seeder) can be time-consuming and expensive, and their availability is often limited, especially for small and marginal farmers. This economic and time pressure often forces farmers to resort to the quicker and cheaper method of burning stubble.
4. Which of the following statements regarding major air pollutants is NOT correct?
- A.Ground-level ozone (O3) is a primary pollutant directly emitted from combustion sources.
- B.Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
- C.Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is primarily released from the burning of fossil fuels containing sulphur, such as coal and oil.
- D.Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statement A is NOT correct. Ground-level ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant. It is not directly emitted but is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight. NOx and VOCs are primary pollutants emitted from sources like vehicles and industrial facilities. Statements B, C, and D are all correct descriptions of the respective pollutants and their characteristics/sources.