CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Punjab’s air quality is expected to improve further in the coming days, officials said on Sunday, citing rising wind speed and improved farm practices as key factors keeping pollution levels in check.
A senior Punjab Pollution Control Board official said industrial emissions, vehicular pollution and smoke from brick kilns continue year-round but have not pushed the state into poor or severe air quality categories. “What is concerning is the movement of dust-laden air, reduced rainfall after the monsoon and construction activity,” the official said.
The official added that blaming neighbouring states for pollution is no longer justified. “No state or agency can now shift responsibility elsewhere, especially onto Punjab,” he said.
Another senior official said wind velocity is expected to rise in the coming days, which would help disperse pollutants. “We are not comparing Punjab with Delhi, but the improvement is evident, particularly after the paddy harvest season,” he said.
Punjab recorded a 53% decline in farm fire incidents this year, with 5,114 cases reported compared to 10,909 in 2024. Officials attributed the drop to the distribution of crop residue management machines, with 1.58 lakh subsidised machines handed over to farmers since 2018, including more than 16,000 sanctioned this year.
The improvement comes amid recurring political disputes between Punjab and Delhi over air pollution during winter months. Recently, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Punjab should not be drawn into a political blame game and that farmers should be acknowledged for reducing stubble burning.
Meanwhile, Punjab continues to witness foggy conditions due to stable atmospheric patterns, weak sunlight and high moisture levels, officials said.
