India intensifies measures against pollution: Satellites assist in detecting wildfires

The Indian government has decided to improve the monitoring of agriculturally induced pollution through the use of satellites. Instead of relying on real-time fire observations, the areas that have already been burned will now be measured. The reason for this change is reports suggesting that farmers deliberately burn their rice stubble at times when satellites are not overhead. Previously, India used data from NASA satellites, which monitored the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana twice a day. These agricultural fires significantly contribute to the smog that envelops the capital region of Delhi every winter. In January, the Commission for Air Quality Management tasked India’s space agency with developing a system to analyze burned areas. According to Deputy Attorney General Aishwarya Bhati, this protocol has been developed and is currently being tested. Experts suspect that farmers have identified the satellite monitoring times and have adjusted their burning times accordingly. Despite lower fire numbers, pollution levels continue to rise. The government described data from stationary satellites as "suboptimal" and "not actionable," contradicting a previous court order to use them. The air quality in Delhi has reached a concerning high with an AQI of 494, leading to restrictions on vehicle and construction activities and the transition of schools to online classes. An AQI above 400 is classified as "severe" in India and endangers healthy people as well as those with pre-existing conditions. Other states in South Asia also struggle annually with toxic air conditions. Studies indicate that rising air pollution can reduce life expectancy in the region by more than five years.