Two weeks after the conclusion of the paddy harvesting season, the air quality in Haryana's Jind district stubbornly remains in the 'poor' to 'very poor' range. This persistent pollution is raising urgent and serious questions about the actual sources of contamination in the region, moving the debate beyond the usual blame placed on farmers for stubble burning.
The Puzzling Persistence of Poor Air
During the peak paddy season, state and district authorities maintained a strict stance against crop residue burning. Multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed, penalties were imposed, and farmers were consistently held responsible for the declining air quality. However, with the harvesting season ending over 15 days ago, the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels show no signs of improvement, challenging the established narrative.
Official data reveals a grim daily reality. The AQI frequently breaches the 'severe' threshold, particularly during morning and evening hours. As recently as Tuesday, the index crossed the 200-mark. In recent days, readings have soared to alarming levels between 400 and 600, consistently ranking Jind among the districts with the most toxic air in the region.
Searching for Answers in a Non-Industrial Zone
The situation is further complicated by Jind's profile. The district lacks major industrial clusters or large-scale manufacturing units, which are typical pollution contributors. Despite this, its air quality remains categorised as severe. To date, authorities have failed to provide a clear, scientific explanation for this phenomenon, and no concrete, long-term steps have been initiated to pinpoint or mitigate the real pollution sources.
In a previous reaction to the crisis, the Jind Superintendent of Police suspended ten police personnel for alleged lapses in enforcing pollution control measures. However, this administrative action has yielded no visible improvement on the ground, leaving residents without relief.
Farmers Reject the Blame, Officials Agree
The farming community has strongly objected to being singled out. They argue that with no active harvesting or stubble burning occurring, the continued high AQI levels expose the flaw in blaming agriculture alone. They describe this narrative as misleading and unfair.
This viewpoint finds support from agricultural department officials. Girish Nagpal, Deputy Director of Agriculture in Jind, confirmed that 100% of the district's agricultural land has already been sown with wheat and mustard crops. He explicitly stated that farming activities currently have no role in the deteriorating air quality, shifting the focus to other, yet-unidentified factors.
A Mounting Public Health Emergency
The ongoing air crisis has escalated into a serious public health concern for Jind's residents. The absence of a clear explanation or a robust corrective strategy is deepening public anxiety and distrust. Citizens and farmers alike are now demanding a comprehensive, scientific assessment to identify the true causes of pollution—be it vehicular emissions, dust, local biomass burning for fuel, or trans-boundary pollution—and to implement effective, lasting remedial measures.
The case of Jind serves as a critical reminder that air pollution is a complex issue requiring data-driven solutions rather than seasonal blame games. Until the real sources are acknowledged and addressed, the people of Jind will continue to breathe dangerously polluted air.
