Sun Nov 24 05:06:52 UTC 2024: ## CAQM Accused of Misrepresenting Farm Fire Data to Downplay Delhi Air Pollution Crisis
**New Delhi, November 24, 2024** – The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is facing intense scrutiny over allegations it deliberately misrepresented data on farm fires to downplay the severity of Delhi’s air pollution crisis. A recent investigation by *The Hindu* reveals that the CAQM was aware farmers were strategically delaying the burning of paddy stubble until after the daily overpass of NASA satellites used for monitoring, thereby avoiding detection.
The controversy centers around the use of data from NASA’s Aqua and Suomi-NPP satellites, which provide images at 1:30 pm local time. Evidence suggests farmers, potentially advised by government officials, began burning after this time, leading to underreporting of fire incidents. This manipulation is consistent with “Goodhart’s Law,” where a metric, when made a target, ceases to be a reliable measure.
A senior NASA scientist, Hiren Jethva, noted discrepancies between satellite data showing fewer fires and persistent high levels of aerosols in the air, indicating a higher number of fires than reported. Further investigation revealed the CAQM’s claim of a significant decrease in farm fires contradicts data from the Punjab government and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, which show an increase in burnt area.
The CAQM’s defense rests on using different calculation methods, but this has been criticized as a means to justify its misleading claims. The body’s conflicting statements in public and in Supreme Court affidavits further fuel accusations of deliberate misrepresentation.
The Supreme Court has summoned the CAQM to respond to these allegations on November 25th. The Union agriculture minister’s earlier assertions of a drop in stubble burning incidents are now also under question.
The situation highlights shortcomings in the CAQM’s oversight and raises questions about the effectiveness of its strategies to combat air pollution. The investigation also underscores the need for more reliable and independent methods for monitoring farm fires, potentially utilizing data from other satellites with different overpass times, to accurately assess the scale of the problem and inform effective solutions.
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