The issue of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana continues to contribute significantly to the air pollution crisis in northern India, particularly in Delhi-NCR. The role of satellites in tracking these farm fires has come under scrutiny due to discrepancies in data collection and the apparent evasion of satellite detection by farmers.

Context and Problem

1.    What is Stubble Burning?

o    Farmers burn paddy stubble (residual organic material after rice harvest) to clear fields quickly and prepare for the next wheat-sowing season.

o    While cost-effective and time-saving, this practice generates significant airborne pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, and other toxic substances.

2.    Impact on Air Quality:

o    Stubble burning contributes to the toxic smog in Delhi-NCR during winter months.

o    The wind patterns carry pollutants from surrounding states, exacerbating the region's already poor air quality.

3.    Efforts to Curb Stubble Burning:

o    Legal measures, awareness campaigns, and technological interventions have been employed to reduce farm fires, with varying degrees of success.

How Are Farm Fires Tracked?

1.    Use of Satellites:

o    The Indian government currently relies on two NASA satellites, Aqua and Suomi-NPP, for tracking farm fires.

o    These satellites:

§  Use the MODIS and VIIRS instruments to collect visible and infrared images of Earth.

§  Detect fires and smoke during their overpasses, which occur at 1:30 PM and 1:30 AM local time.

2.    Additional Data:

o    Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (on Suomi-NPP) tracks aerosol loads to monitor pollution from fires.

o    Satellites like GEO-KOMPSAT 2A (South Korea) provide complementary data for better accuracy.

Recent Controversy

1.    Discrepancies in Fire Counts:

o    Satellite data from Aqua and Suomi-NPP suggested a reduction in farm fires in 2023 and 2024.

o    However, smoke cover over croplands appeared denser later in the day, implying fires might be lit after the satellites’ overpasses.

2.    Evasion by Farmers:

o    Evidence suggests farmers intentionally delay burning until after 4 PM to evade satellite detection.

o    This evasion tactic was reportedly known to officials, as indicated in meeting minutes and anecdotal reports.

3.    Contradictory Data:

o    While the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) claims significant reductions in burnt areas (e.g., a 71% drop in Punjab from 2020 to 2024), other sources such as the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) report increases in burnt areas.

4.    Goodhart’s Law:

o    Farmers adapting their practices to evade satellite detection highlights Goodhart’s law: “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”

Challenges in Data Accuracy

1.    Timing of Satellite Overpasses:

o    Aqua and Suomi-NPP only capture data during their scheduled overpasses, limiting real-time monitoring capabilities.

2.    Ground Truthing:

o    Satellite data needs to be corroborated with ground-level observations to validate accuracy.

3.    Limitations of Indian Satellites:

o    Satellites like INSAT-3DR have coarse spatial resolution, making them unsuitable for tracking small-scale fires.

o    Failed missions, such as the GISAT-1 launch in 2021, have hindered India’s capacity to generate real-time data.

Government Responses

1.    CAQM’s Role:

o    Established to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the CAQM has been criticized for inadequate enforcement and failing to address stubble burning comprehensively.

o    Its claims of reduced farm fires have been challenged by data inconsistencies and Supreme Court scrutiny.

2.    Efforts by ISRO:

o    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working to evaluate the usability of satellite data from Indian and international satellites for better detection.

o    Instruments onboard RESOURCESAT satellites and other missions could improve tracking capabilities, although these require further evaluation.

Solutions and Way Forward

1.    Technological Interventions:

o    Develop and deploy high-resolution Indian satellites for real-time monitoring.

o    Invest in advanced ground-based sensors and combine data with satellite observations for better accuracy.

2.    Policy and Incentives:

o    Promote sustainable alternatives to stubble burning, such as happy seeders, bio-decomposers, and financial incentives for farmers.

o    Strengthen penalties for non-compliance and offer subsidies for eco-friendly practices.

3.    Public and Farmer Awareness:

o    Educate farmers on the long-term health and environmental impacts of stubble burning.

o    Encourage community-driven solutions and local monitoring mechanisms.

4.    Improving CAQM Functionality:

o    Empower the CAQM to enforce stricter measures and ensure transparency in data collection and reporting.

o    Collaborate with international agencies for technical expertise and resources.

Conclusion

Stubble burning is a multifaceted issue that requires a combination of technological, policy-driven, and behavioral interventions. While satellites provide critical data, evasion tactics by farmers underscore the need for real-time monitoring and ground-level validation. Addressing this challenge requires stronger institutional mechanisms, enhanced satellite capabilities, and effective farmer engagement to ensure sustainable agricultural practices and improved air quality.

Answer

The recurring problem of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana significantly contributes to air pollution in northern India, particularly in Delhi-NCR. Satellite technology has become a crucial tool for monitoring farm fires, yet its effectiveness has been challenged due to discrepancies in data and evolving farmer practices.

Role of Satellite Technology in Tracking Farm Fires

1.   Current Satellites in Use:

o    NASA’s Aqua and Suomi-NPP satellites: Equipped with MODIS and VIIRS instruments, these satellites provide visible and infrared images of fires at 1:30 PM and 1:30 AM local time.

o    GEO-KOMPSAT 2A (South Korea): Complements data with geostationary monitoring.

o    Indian Satellites: INSAT-3DR and RESOURCESAT are used, but their resolutions are not optimal for small-scale fire detection.

2.   Effectiveness:

o    Satellites enable large-scale monitoring of farm fires.

o    Instruments like the Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS) measure aerosol levels, linking fires to air pollution.

Challenges in Implementation

1.   Timing of Satellite Overpasses:

o    Aqua and Suomi-NPP capture data at fixed intervals. Farmers, aware of these timings, delay burning until after the satellites’ overpasses, reducing detection accuracy.

2.   Data Discrepancies:

o    Conflicting reports between government agencies and satellite data raise doubts about the ground truthing of observations.

o    CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) reported significant reductions in burnt areas, while the Indian Agricultural Research Institute observed increases.

3.   Limitations of Indian Satellites:

o    Indian satellites like INSAT-3DR have low spatial resolution, limiting their ability to detect fires precisely.

o    The failure of missions like GISAT-1 has hindered real-time monitoring capabilities.

4.   Evasion Tactics:

o    Farmers’ adaptations to avoid detection, such as burning post-satellite overpass times, reflect Goodhart’s law: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."

5.   Policy and Enforcement Gaps:

o    CAQM, despite its statutory powers, has been criticized for not effectively mitigating stubble burning or penalizing non-compliance.

Measures to Address Challenges

1.   Technological Upgrades:

o    Develop high-resolution Indian satellites for better spatial and temporal coverage.

o    Use geostationary satellites for real-time monitoring of fires.

o    Integrate satellite data with ground-based sensors for accurate validation.

2.   Policy and Implementation:

o    Provide subsidies and incentives for alternatives like happy seeders, bio-decomposers, and crop residue management equipment.

o    Strengthen enforcement mechanisms under CAQM, including penalties for non-compliance.

3.   Awareness and Farmer Engagement:

o    Educate farmers on the environmental and health impacts of stubble burning.

o    Promote community-based monitoring and encourage participatory solutions.

4.   Inter-agency Collaboration:

o    Improve coordination between agencies like ISRO, CAQM, and agricultural departments for unified strategies.

o    Collaborate with international organizations for technical expertise and resources.

5.   Alternative Practices:

o    Invest in technologies to convert stubble into biofuels or other economically viable products.

o    Extend financial support for crop diversification to reduce paddy cultivation, which generates high stubble volumes.

Conclusion

While satellite technology is crucial for tracking farm fires, its limitations, compounded by evasion tactics and policy gaps, reduce its effectiveness. A multi-pronged approach that integrates technological advancements, robust enforcement, farmer incentives, and collaborative governance is essential to address the issue comprehensively. Ensuring sustainable agricultural practices will not only reduce air pollution but also contribute to long-term environmental and public health goals.

1. Which of the following satellites are primarily used by the Indian government to monitor stubble burning?

A. Aqua and Suomi-NPP
B. INSAT-3DR and GISAT-1
C. GEO-KOMPSAT 2A and Meteosat-9
D. Sentinel II and Feng Yun-4A

Answer: A
Explanation: The Indian government uses NASA’s Aqua and Suomi-NPP satellites, which are equipped with MODIS and VIIRS instruments, for tracking farm fires.

2. What is the primary purpose of the VIIRS instrument onboard the Suomi-NPP satellite?

A. To measure ozone levels in the stratosphere.
B. To track changes in the Earth’s surface, including fires.
C. To monitor greenhouse gas emissions from urban areas.
D. To measure ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

Answer: B
Explanation: VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) tracks changes on Earth’s surface, such as fires and smoke, by capturing visible and infrared images.

3. What is the primary challenge faced by satellites like Aqua and Suomi-NPP in accurately detecting stubble burning?

A. Inability to monitor large-scale fires.
B. Low-resolution imaging capabilities.
C. Fixed overpass timings, leading to evasion by farmers.
D. Failure to measure aerosol loads in the atmosphere.

Answer: C
Explanation: Farmers often burn stubble after the satellites’ fixed overpass times (around 1:30 PM and 1:30 AM) to evade detection, reducing the accuracy of data.

4. What is the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)?

A. To replace the Central Pollution Control Board.
B. To monitor and resolve air quality issues in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
C. To manage agricultural practices in Punjab and Haryana.
D. To operate satellites for air pollution monitoring.

Answer: B
Explanation: The CAQM was established to tackle air quality issues in Delhi-NCR and nearby states by studying, identifying, and resolving causes of pollution, including stubble burning.

5. What is Goodhart’s Law, as seen in the context of stubble burning?

A. Policies targeting air pollution must be dynamic to succeed.
B. When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be an effective measure.
C. Farmers adapt to environmental policies over time.
D. Data from satellites cannot reliably track human behavior.

Answer: B
Explanation: Goodhart’s Law applies here as farmers adapt their practices (e.g., burning stubble after satellite overpass times) to evade detection, undermining the effectiveness of satellite-based monitoring systems.