📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harkamal550
Agriculture
Uncontrolled Stubble Burning Persists in Dera Bassi, Punjab
✍️ Amar Ujala · Mohali
🗓 12 Oct 2026, 02:36 AM
👁 9
Stubble burning in agricultural fields of Dera Bassi continues without restraint, aggravating air quality concerns in the region.
The practice of burning crop residue in the fields surrounding Dera Bassi, a town in Punjab's Mohali district, has shown no sign of abating. Farmers continue to set fire to stubble after the harvest, a method that is widely known to release large amounts of particulate matter into the atmosphere.
Local air quality monitors have recorded elevated levels of pollutants during the burning season, prompting health advisories from regional authorities. Despite repeated calls for alternative residue management techniques, the lack of affordable options keeps many cultivators reliant on open burning.
Environmental groups have highlighted the broader impact of the smoke plume, which drifts across neighboring districts and contributes to the seasonal haze that affects daily life in Punjab. The ongoing situation underscores the need for coordinated interventions between government agencies and the farming community.
Efforts to introduce mechanized solutions such as happy seeders and residue mulching are being discussed, but implementation remains limited. As the burning continues unchecked, the region faces mounting pressure to balance agricultural practices with air‑quality standards.
Local air quality monitors have recorded elevated levels of pollutants during the burning season, prompting health advisories from regional authorities. Despite repeated calls for alternative residue management techniques, the lack of affordable options keeps many cultivators reliant on open burning.
Environmental groups have highlighted the broader impact of the smoke plume, which drifts across neighboring districts and contributes to the seasonal haze that affects daily life in Punjab. The ongoing situation underscores the need for coordinated interventions between government agencies and the farming community.
Efforts to introduce mechanized solutions such as happy seeders and residue mulching are being discussed, but implementation remains limited. As the burning continues unchecked, the region faces mounting pressure to balance agricultural practices with air‑quality standards.