Examining the policy-practice gap- The issue of crop burning induced Particulate Matter pollution in Northwest India

Abstract

The study examine the efficacy of government policy interventions initiated since 2014 to curb FCRB in NW Indian states and the related air pollution in Delhi-NCR during 2014-2019. The regression analysis suggests an increase in PM2.5 of ~69 µg/m3/1000 surge in fires. VIIRS retrieved data suggest an overall declining trend of ~1606 and ~4308 fire counts per year across NW states during October-November respectively. The monthly PM2.5 concentrations in New Delhi exhibits a decline of ~2.18 µg/m3 and ~5.17 µg/m3 per year over the same period. Despite an overall increase of ~17.6 % rice productivity, a noted decrease in fire activity over the period is an encouraging move, likely a result of some control imposed by authorities on FCRB. Owing to a significant ~35.5% rise in wheat productivity, data records rising trend in wheat residue burning activities in April (~1298/year) and May (~2402/year) but do not trigger extreme pollution due to difference in intensity of fires across harvesting seasons and relatively weak northwesterly wind direction. Nevertheless, the overall high PM2.5 levels in October-November and April-May compared to NAAQS 24-hour average of 60µg/m3, disproves the overall efficacy of government policies to curb FCRB and related air pollution in IGP region.

Keywords

• field crop residue burning(fcrb)
• emissions
• particulate matter
• mitigation
• india
• government interventions