'77% Stubble Already Burnt': Delhi Minister Slams Punjab CM Over 'False' Pollution Claims
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa slams Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, alleging 77% of stubble is already burnt despite claims to the contrary.
In a heated political escalation over the deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of providing misleading information regarding paddy harvesting and stubble burning. Speaking at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Shastri Park, Sirsa alleged that while the Punjab government claims harvesting has not yet begun, their own data tells a completely different story.
The Data Clash: 77% Burnt vs. Official Claims
The core of the dispute lies in the numbers. Sirsa pointed out a stark contradiction between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's recent press conference and the official records. According to the Delhi Minister, the Punjab government's own data reveals that 77 per cent of the stubble (parali) has already been burnt, directly contradicting Mann's assertion that harvesting had not started.
Sirsa linked this surge in burning to the rapid decline of Delhi's air quality. He highlighted a dramatic shift in the Air Quality Index (AQI) over a mere four-day window:
- October 30: AQI was at a healthy 60.
- October 31: AQI rose to 117.
- November 4: AQI skyrocketed to 377.
"When the air in Delhi was clean, the burning of stubble had not yet begun in Punjab," Sirsa remarked, questioning how the air could become so severely polluted in such a short time if the claims of no harvesting were true.
Explosion in Fire Incidents
The Minister further detailed a sharp increase in reported fire incidents. He noted that on November 2, only 92 fire incidents were reported. However, by November 3, that number jumped to 484. Sirsa emphasized that this figure is the highest recorded so far, effectively doubling the numbers seen over the previous two years.
Allegations of Political Appointments and Mismanagement
Sirsa did not stop at the data, turning his criticism toward the administration of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). He alleged that the AAP government has politicized environmental oversight by appointing Reena Gupta, an AAP spokesperson and relative of Arvind Kejriwal, as the PPCB Chairperson.
Sirsa claimed that Gupta lacks the necessary administrative or environmental background, stating she is neither an IAS officer nor an environmentalist, and was appointed solely to turn the board into a political tool for the party.
Farmers as Scapegoats?
The Delhi Minister also raised concerns over how the law is being applied. Citing PPCB data, he mentioned that while 2,196 fire locations were identified and 494 FIRs were registered, the enforcement actions have been one-sided.
"The Punjab Pollution Control Board itself admits that no charge sheets are being filed against the officials; instead, cases are being registered only against the farmers," Sirsa alleged.
Missing Funds and Concealed Data
The controversy extends to financial mismanagement and administrative secrecy. Sirsa claimed that the Modi government provided Rs 5,000 crore to the Punjab government for 'Happy Seeders' and other agricultural machinery to prevent stubble burning. He alleged that these funds were misappropriated, leaving farmers with no choice but to burn crop residue, only to be faced with FIRs later.
Furthermore, Sirsa revealed that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued notices to the Deputy Commissioners of Bathinda, Fazilka, Jalandhar, and Barnala. The CAQM reportedly accused these officials of concealing fire counts and failing to stop the burning in their respective districts.
Concluding his remarks, Sirsa questioned the logic of the Punjab government's stance: "If no fires are actually taking place, then how is the Punjab government providing these figures?"