NCR braces for smoky days as stubble burning starts in Punjab, Haryana

Farmers in Punjab claim the price of the machines has been artificially inflated this year

Though the number of stubble-burning sites in Punjab and Haryana has declined considerably since last year — at least till now — farmers continue to do so this year as well. Many of them claim that the high price of straw-sorting machines as well their shortage is forcing them to resort to the method that leads to air pollution.

Every year, the burning of leftover straw from paddy cultivation leads to acute air pollution in the National Capital Region at the start of winter. A number of solutions has been suggested, including seeder machines, which do on-site straw management.

Farmers in Punjab,