CAQM seeks better farm fire measurement protocols with Punjab, Haryana

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is in discussions with Punjab and Haryana to develop more reliable methods for tracking and quantifying stubble burning during harvest seasons, officials said on Tuesday.

Rajesh Varma, chief of CAQM, acknowledged that satellite-based fire counts, while useful as a monitoring tool, do not necessarily capture the full extent of agricultural burning across the region. "While the fire counts reported from satellite passes may not be the most accurate picture of the extent of farm fires, we are in talks with ISRO to have better ground truthing protocols," Varma stated.

The move comes as the two northern states continue to grapple with crop residue burning during October and November, a period when farmers typically clear their fields ahead of winter sowing. The practice has been identified as a significant contributor to Delhi's seasonal air pollution crisis.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is being engaged to help establish improved verification methods that can cross-check satellite observations with ground-level data. Such protocols would provide policymakers with more accurate information for tracking compliance with stubble burning restrictions and assessing the effectiveness of mitigation measures.

Better estimation methods are expected to help CAQM, Punjab, and Haryana fine-tune their air quality management strategies and coordinate more effectively on emissions control during the critical burning season.