CAQM to refine stubble-burning data with ISRO, state talks underway
CAQM chief Rajesh Varma says satellite fire counts may understate stubble burning; talks with ISRO and Punjab, Haryana aim to improve ground-truthing protocols.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is working to sharpen the accuracy of stubble-burning estimates, acknowledging that current satellite-based fire counts may not present the complete picture of farm fires across north India.
CAQM chairperson Rajesh Varma said the agency is in discussions with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop better 'ground truthing' protocols. These would help verify satellite observations with on-ground realities, reducing the gap between detected fire events and actual burning activity.
In parallel, the Commission has initiated talks with the state governments of Punjab and Haryana to improve the overall estimation methodology. The collaborative effort aims to make data on crop residue burning more reliable for policy planning and air quality management.
Varma's remarks come amid ongoing concerns over seasonal air pollution spikes linked to stubble burning in the region. The move signals a push toward more scientifically robust monitoring, rather than relying solely on remote sensing data that may miss smaller or shorter-duration fires.