Dussehra, Stubble Burning Keep Delhi Air Quality In Poor Category

As the nation celebrated Dussehra on Tuesday by burning the effigies of Ravana, farmers in Punjab paced up the crop residue burning as 360 farm fires, the maximum in a day this season, were reported, taking the overall count to 2,306.

A few farmers set stubble on fire to register their protest against the government agencies. While farmers are being penalised for setting paddy residue on fire, no action is taken against those burning lakhs of Ravana effigies on Dussehra and crackers during Diwali, they said.

The smoke from the Dussehra celebrations, unfavourable meteorological conditions, and a cocktail of emissions from stubble burning and firecrackers around Delhi, in addition to the local sources of pollution, contributed to the national capital's air quality remaining in the "poor category" for the third straight day today. The air quality is unlikely to see any major improvement over the next few days, monitoring agencies said.

On Tuesday, the city's average air quality index (AQI) stood at 238 at 10 am, worsening from 220 at 4pm.

The average AQI was 196 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 258 in Faridabad, 176 in Gurugram, 200 in Noida, and 248 in Greater Noida. Delhi's AQI is likely to oscillate between the poor and very poor categories over the next four to five days, the Centre's Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi said.

Last month, Delhi announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers within the capital city.

On Monday, Delhi directed all district magistrates to inspect their areas and ensure the strict implementation of all pollution mitigation measures.

The government has identified eight more pollution hotspots in the national capital and special teams will be deployed to check pollution sources, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.

The Delhi government launched a 15-point action plan in September to mitigate air pollution in the capital during the winter, with a strong emphasis on addressing dust pollution, vehicular emissions, and open burning of garbage.

(With input from PTI)