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Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment: Stubble burning in North India, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, has become a recurring environmental and health crisis. Every year after the paddy harvest, farmers burn crop residue to quickly clear fields for the next sowing season. While this practice saves time and labor, it releases massive amounts of toxic pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) into the atmosphere. According to the 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), incidents of stubble burning declined by nearly 37.5% compared to 2023. This leads to smog, respiratory illnesses, eye irritation, reduced visibility, and long-term climate impacts.
In this blog, we not only discuss the impact of stubble burning on health and the environment with updated facts, but we also provide sample essays to help students, researchers, and competitive exam aspirants write effectively on this critical issue.
Contents
- 1 Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment in 150 Words
- 2 Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment in 250 Words
- 3 Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment in 550 Words
- 4 10 Lines on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment
- 5 FAQs
Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment in 150 Words
Stubble burning is a farming practice in which leftover straw, especially after the rice harvest, is set on fire to quickly clear fields. This happens mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Although it saves farmers time and money, the smoke creates serious health and environmental problems.
The smoke contains dangerous gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, along with very fine dust called PM2.5. These particles are so small that they can enter deep into the lungs and cause coughing, asthma attacks, and even heart problems. Children and elderly people suffer the most during these months.
In 2024, Punjab recorded around 10,909 stubble fire incidents, a big fall compared to over 70,000 cases in 2021. However, the air in Delhi and nearby regions remained unhealthy, with annual PM2.5 levels rising to about 104.7 µg/m³, far above the safe limit of 40 µg/m³. This shows that even if farm fires reduce, other sources like traffic, industries, and garbage burning continue to make the air worse.
To control this, governments are giving machines like the “Happy Seeder,” encouraging composting, and turning straw into biofuel. If farmers, officials, and citizens work together, North India can breathe cleaner and healthier air.
Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment in 250 Words
Stubble burning is one of the major causes of pollution in North India. Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh burn leftover straw after the rice harvest to prepare fields for the next crop. This method is quick and cheap, but its harmful effects are severe.
When stubble is burnt, thick smoke rises into the air, forming smog in Delhi and surrounding regions. The smoke contains tiny particles called PM2.5, which are linked to lung infections, asthma, eye irritation, and even heart diseases. In winter, the cold air traps smoke closer to the ground, making the situation worse. Hospitals see a sharp increase in patients with breathing problems during this time.
In 2024, satellite data showed a 37.5% decline in stubble fires compared to 2023, yet Delhi’s PM2.5 levels still increased by 3.4%. This proves that while farm fires add to pollution, other sources like vehicles, factories, construction dust, and garbage burning also play a big role.
Solutions are being tried to reduce burning. Machines like the Happy Seeder and balers help farmers manage straw without fire. Some power plants have begun using crop residue as fuel, and governments provide financial aid to farmers who avoid burning. Public awareness campaigns and strict rules have also reduced fire counts in many villages.
To truly solve the crisis, both farmers and cities must act together. Farmers need affordable alternatives, and cities must cut down their own emissions. Only then can North India hope for clean skies and healthy lives.
Also Read: Essay on Save Environment
Essay on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment in 550 Words
Every year after the rice harvest, large areas of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh witness stubble burning. Farmers follow this practice because it is quick, cost-effective, and allows them to prepare their fields for the next wheat crop without delay. Labor shortages and high costs of machine rental also push them to burn crop residue as the cheapest option. However, while this practice saves time in the short term, it creates long-lasting damage to both health and the environment.
When stubble is burnt, the smoke released contains harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides, along with fine particles known as PM2.5 and PM10. These particles are extremely dangerous because they can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. As a result, people living in nearby regions and cities suffer from asthma, severe cough, lung infections, and even heart-related problems. Hospitals in Delhi and other cities regularly report a sharp increase in patients with breathing difficulties during the burning season. Children and older people are the worst affected, as their bodies are more sensitive to polluted air.
The environmental impact of stubble burning is equally alarming. The dense smoke creates thick smog, which reduces visibility and often leads to road accidents. It also settles as black soot on plants, reducing crop yield in nearby fields. In addition, the burning process releases greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and accelerate global warming. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi’s annual PM2.5 level rose to around 104.7 µg/m³ in 2024, more than two-and-a-half times higher than India’s safe limit of 40 µg/m³. This means millions of people in North India are breathing unsafe air. Surprisingly, this happened even though Punjab reported only 10,909 stubble fire incidents in 2024, a sharp decline compared to more than 70,000 cases in 2021. This proves that while stubble burning adds heavily to pollution, other sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, construction dust, and garbage burning also play a significant role in worsening air quality.
To tackle this crisis, multiple steps are being taken. The government is promoting machines like the Happy Seeder, Super Straw Management System, and balers, which help farmers manage crop residue without burning. Some industries have started using crop waste to produce paper, biofuel, and even electricity, turning waste into a resource. Power plants are being encouraged to co-fire rice straw with coal, reducing pollution and saving energy. Farmers are also offered financial incentives if they avoid burning. Schools, NGOs, and community groups are raising awareness among villagers about the harmful effects of burning and teaching safe alternatives.
Yet, challenges remain. Many small farmers cannot afford expensive machines, and subsidies often do not reach them in time. Awareness is still limited in rural areas, where burning is seen as the easiest method. Strict monitoring and penalties are not always effective because farmers need practical, affordable solutions. To make real progress, support programs must combine financial help, easy access to technology, and training at the village level. Planting more trees and building green belts around fields and cities can also reduce the impact of smoke.
In conclusion, stubble burning is not just a farmer’s problem—it is a regional crisis that affects millions of people across North India. The decline in farm fire incidents in recent years is a hopeful sign, but unless both rural and urban pollution are reduced together, the situation will not improve. With joint efforts from farmers, governments, industries, and citizens, it is possible to reduce smoke, protect health, and ensure cleaner skies for future generations.
Also Read: Essay on Health Education: Samples for Students
10 Lines on Impact of Stubble Burning in North India on Health and Environment
Here are 10 lines on the impact of stubble burning in North India on health for students:
- Stubble burning is the practice of setting leftover crop straw on fire after harvesting, mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Farmers do this to quickly clear fields for the next crop, but it creates heavy smoke.
- The smoke contains harmful gases like carbon monoxide and tiny dust particles called PM2.5 and PM10.
- These particles cause breathing problems, asthma, coughing, and heart diseases.
- Children and older people are most affected during the burning season.
- Thick smog from stubble fires reduces visibility, leading to road accidents.
- The soot settles on plants, harming crops and lowering soil fertility.
- In 2024, Punjab reported only 10,909 stubble fire cases, but Delhi’s pollution still rose to 104.7 µg/m³ PM2.5, far above safe limits.
- Machines like the Happy Seeder and using straw for biofuel or paper are better alternatives.
- Stubble burning is not just a farmer’s issue but a regional crisis that needs joint efforts from farmers, government, and citizens.
Also Read: Essay on Cleanliness: Free Samples for School Students
FAQs
To write an essay on the impact of stubble burning in North India on health, begin with a short introduction explaining what stubble burning is and why farmers practice it. Then describe how the smoke releases harmful gases and fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10) that enter the lungs and cause asthma, cough, breathing difficulties, and heart problems, especially in children and elderly people. Use updated facts, like the rise of Delhi’s PM2.5 level to 104.7 µg/m³ in 2024, which is far above the safe limit, to show the seriousness. Finally, conclude by suggesting solutions such as providing farmers with machines, promoting biofuel, and raising awareness, while stressing that cleaner practices are necessary to protect public health.
Stubble burning releases thick smoke filled with harmful gases like carbon monoxide, methane, and tiny particles (PM2.5 and PM10) that damage both health and the environment. It causes coughing, asthma, lung infections, heart problems, and eye irritation, especially among children and older people. The smoke forms dense smog, reduces visibility, leads to accidents, and settles on crops, lowering yield and soil fertility. It also releases greenhouse gases that increase global warming. Even though stubble burning incidents in Punjab dropped to about 10,909 in 2024 from over 70,000 in 2021, Delhi’s annual PM2.5 pollution still rose to 104.7 µg/m³, showing that stubble fires remain a major contributor to poor air quality along with other urban sources.
Rice and wheat stubble burning in northwestern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh has severe environmental implications. It releases large amounts of PM2.5, carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides, which worsen air pollution and contribute to smog formation. The soot settles on soil, reducing fertility and affecting crop productivity. Burning also destroys beneficial soil microorganisms, leading to long-term soil degradation. In addition, it releases greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. Thick smoke reduces visibility, causing accidents, while the haze spreads across cities like Delhi, making winter air pollution even more dangerous.
Burning, especially stubble burning, has several harmful effects on the environment. It releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10) into the air, which worsen air pollution and contribute to climate change. The thick smoke creates smog, reducing visibility and disturbing weather patterns. Soot from the fires settles on plants, reducing crop yield, and the heat from burning destroys important soil nutrients and microorganisms, lowering soil fertility. Overall, it harms air, soil, plants, and the climate at the same time.
Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas releases harmful gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles into the air. These pollutants cause serious health problems including asthma, lung infections, heart disease, and even cancer, while children and the elderly are most vulnerable. At the same time, carbon dioxide and methane emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. Fossil fuel burning also creates smog, acid rain, and damage to soil, water, and forests, making it one of the biggest threats to both human health and the environment.
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