Punjab Farmer News: The government in Punjab is claiming that the incidents of burning paddy stubble have reduced significantly this time. According to the incidents of burning which have been captured through satellite, 8404 incidents of burning of stubble have been reported in Punjab till 17 November this time. Last year, a total of 36663 incidents of burning of stubble were reported. According to this, there is a decrease in the incidents of burning of stubble. 

However, this time it is also being claimed that farmers are burning paddy stubble at night so that satellites cannot catch these incidents. But does burning paddy stubble at night prevent satellites from noticing these incidents? Are farmers really succeeding in fooling satellites?

Professor Ravindra Khaiwal of the School of Community Medicine and Public Health Department at PGI Chandigarh does not agree with this. According to him, the satellites that are monitoring the incidents of stubble burning can detect it even a few hours after the fire is set because heat continues to emanate from the place where the fire is set, which the satellite detects.

He said, "This time, a decrease has been recorded in the incidents of stubble burning in Punjab. However, according to Khaiwal, the satellites whose data the Punjab government and PGI are using to monitor the incidents of stubble burning are not geostationary and they pass through the areas of Punjab and Haryana during the afternoon. Therefore, the data obtained from these satellites is indicative and for correct information, it will have to be compared with the data of geostationary satellites." He said, "But still, farmers cannot deceive the satellites on a large scale."