Delhi¡¯s Air Quality Plummets Ahead Of Diwali, Expected To Deteriorate Further Due To Stubble Burning

As the festive season approaches, Delhi¡¯s air quality has plummeted to ¡°Poor¡± level after the residents breathed better air than corresponding periods in the last few years.

The centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) recorded the overall air quality index (AQI) at 221, which falls in the poor category.

Certain neighbourhoods in Delhi, such as Anand Vihar and Wazirpur, have already recorded AQIs of more 300, placing them in the "very poor" category.

The adjoining areas of Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida, Baghpat, Murthal recorded their AQI at 287, 233, 275, 258 and 245 respectively.

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The air quality in Karnal district of Haryana turned "very poor" overnight. It touched the 351 mark in the AQI index, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.

The deterioration in air quality has been linked to stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. Stubble burning has also contributed to an increase in PM2.5 levels - atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometres - with the concentration of the pollutant expected to rise to 6 per cent by October 15.

"The fire counts in Punjab and Haryana have increased significantly over the last two days. The wind direction in Delhi is westerly which is unfavourable thereby carrying the smoke from the stubble burning towards Delhi," LS Kurinji, a research analyst with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), was quoted by news agency IANS.

The prevailing wind direction and stubble burning are likely to cause further dip in the air quality.

Delhi air quality has been declared "poor" for the first time in three months. It had remained "satisfactory" between July and September, aided by the monsoon and favourable wind conditions.

The National Green Tribunal, in 2015, banned crop residue burning in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

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However, the ban existed only on papers as farmers continue to defy the ban amid a lack of financial incentives.

Farmers in Haryana and Punjab are still engaged in the practice with at least 120 cases of stubble burning reported from the state so far.

A layer of haze lingers over the national capital as the stubble burning season begins and the air quality will only worsen with Diwali around the corner.

On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said smoke from crop residue burning in neighbouring states has started reaching Delhi and the air quality has started deteriorating.

"It has been widely reported that the smoke coming to Delhi is due to the burning of stubble in Karnal, Haryana," he had said.