environmental monitoring
Satellite Data Reveals Farmers Shifted Stubble Burning to Afternoons, Evading Detection Systems
Dec 09, 2025 08:17 pm CST
New satellite analysis challenges claims of 90% reduction in stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana, revealing farmers have strategically shifted burning times to afternoons to evade monitoring systems. While burnt area has genuinely decreased by 25-37%, significant burning continues, undermining Delhi's air quality policy efforts.
Satellite Monitoring Fails to Detect 90% of Farm Fires in Punjab and Haryana: iFOREST Report Reveals
Dec 09, 2025 02:18 am CST
A new report by iFOREST reveals that over 90% of large farm fires in Punjab and Haryana go undetected by official monitoring systems due to farmers shifting stubble-burning to late afternoons. Despite this monitoring gap, burnt areas have decreased by 25-35% in recent years, though approximately 30,000 sq km of paddy fields were still burnt in 2025, significantly impacting air quality in Delhi-NCR and the Indo-Gangetic region.
Mumbai's Air Quality Improves as BMC Takes Action Against 482 Construction Sites Violating Pollution Guidelines
Dec 02, 2025 02:24 am CST
Mumbai has seen significant air quality improvement since November 26 due to various pollution control measures. The BMC has issued show cause notices to 482 construction sites for violations, with 264 receiving stop-work orders. Officials clarified that GRAP-4 restrictions aren't currently applicable to Mumbai, though enhanced monitoring continues with 94 ward-level flying squads overseeing compliance with the 28-point pollution mitigation guidelines.
Delhi Air Pollution Crisis: Minister Highlights Central Oversight While Questions on Local Fund Utilization Remain Unanswered
Dec 01, 2025 08:40 pm CST
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav informed Parliament about monitoring mechanisms for Delhi's air pollution crisis while avoiding direct comments on the Delhi government's utilization of Rs 1,200-crore clean air funds. The minister highlighted 95 directives from the Commission for Air Quality Management and cited improvements in air quality metrics, even as Delhi continues facing "Very Poor" to "Severe" air quality conditions this winter.
Supreme Court Admits Limitations in Solving Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Crisis
Nov 27, 2025 03:57 pm CST
The Supreme Court of India acknowledged it has "no magic wand" to immediately solve Delhi-NCR's severe air pollution problem, promising continuous monitoring instead of seasonal attention. Led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, the Court recognized the complex nature of the pollution crisis and committed to regular hearings to address the ongoing health emergency affecting the national capital region.
Delhi's Air Quality Crisis: Only 9 of 37 Monitoring Stations Functional During Diwali as Supreme Court Demands Answers
Nov 03, 2025 05:54 pm CST
The Supreme Court has learned that only nine of Delhi's 37 air quality monitoring stations were operational during Diwali, hampering pollution control efforts as PM2.5 levels reached 488 micrograms per cubic meter—nearly 100 times WHO safety limits. Despite regulations on "green" firecrackers and reduced farm fires, Delhi experienced its worst post-Diwali air quality in five years, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of current monitoring and enforcement measures.
NISAR Satellite Releases First Radar Images: NASA-ISRO Collaboration Reveals Detailed Earth Surface Mapping
Sep 26, 2025 04:42 pm CST
NASA and ISRO's joint NISAR satellite has released its first radar images showing remarkable detail of Earth's surface features, including Maine's coast and North Dakota farmland. The $1.3 billion mission, operating from 747 kilometers above Earth, will begin full science operations in November and continue for five years, providing critical data for disaster response, environmental monitoring, and agricultural management through its advanced synthetic aperture radar technology.