The Supreme Court of India today expressed grave concern over the alarming pollution levels blanketing northern India, as Punjab reported the highest number of farm fires this season, with nearly 1,000 fires detected in just one day. This came on the same day that the court scrutinized Delhi's air pollution, which had reached unprecedented levels.

Hiren Jethva, an aerosol remote sensing scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, pointed out that the data collected between noon and 1:30 pm today showed a marked increase in farm fires compared to previous years. He suggested that farmers may be altering their burning patterns, starting their fires later in the day after NASA satellites have passed over the region, possibly to avoid detection.

The shift in the timing of farm fires is supported by data from a South Korean geo-stationary satellite, which indicated a rise in fires in the late afternoon, after 2 pm. This has raised questions about whether this change in fire timings is a deliberate attempt by farmers to circumvent satellite monitoring, a point Mr. Jethva emphasized in his report.

Despite the evidence presented by NASA, local authorities, including Prof. Adarshpal Vig, Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, disagreed with the notion that farm fires were the primary cause of the pollution surge. While he acknowledged the 1,251 farm fires detected today, he attributed the worsening pollution largely to the seasonal weather changes that trap pollutants close to the ground, rather than solely to stubble burning.

Prof. Vig also argued that the downward trend in stubble burning, as seen in data from the past two years, indicates that farm fires may not be as significant a factor in the pollution increase as suggested. For example, in 2023, Punjab recorded 33,719 instances of stubble burning, which was a 70% reduction from 2022. However, Jethva countered that despite the decline in the number of fires, the aerosol load and particulate matter, particularly PM2.5 levels, remained dangerously high.

The Supreme Court, in its observations today, noted that the data from NASA's polar-orbiting satellites, which monitor farm fires at specific times, may not fully capture the extent of pollution caused by late-afternoon fires. The court directed the Union of India and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider using data from stationary satellites, like the Korean satellite, to track farm fires throughout the day and ensure timely intervention.

The court also reprimanded the government for delays in implementing restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The bench questioned why GRAP Stage 3 restrictions were implemented three days after the AQI exceeded 300, emphasizing that such measures should be triggered immediately when pollution levels cross certain thresholds.

As Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) continued to hover in the hazardous zone, with PM2.5 levels exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, the court made it clear that it would not permit any easing of restrictions unless explicitly approved, even if the AQI drops below 300.

In addition to stubble burning, the court and experts pointed to other pollution sources, including vehicular and industrial emissions, which continue to worsen air quality. While the debate over the primary cause of pollution in the region continues, the urgency of addressing the pollution crisis is undeniable.