Delhi's Air Quality Is Set To Take A Toxic Turn As NASA Image Shows Rise In Stubble Burning
The air quality in Delhi and the national capital region has begun showing signs of deterioration. According to data from NASA satellite imagery pollution is set to worsen in Delhi as there is an increase in the number of stubble burning in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab. The Graded Response Action Plan GRAP to combat air pollution has come into effect in Delhi on Tuesday.
Even before the onset of winter the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region has begun showing signs of deterioration.
The air quality in Delhi which has been in the poor category for nearly a week further slipped on Wednesday to 'very poor'. On Wednesday the overall air quality in Delhi was 309 according to SAFAR.
PM2.5 was the main pollutant in the air and it was more than 200 points above the 'satisfactory' levels. The PM10 levels stood at 194 on Wednesday.
If the air quality is not bad enough already, it is set to further deteriorate in the coming days.
According to data from NASA satellite imagery, pollution is set to worsen in Delhi as there is an increase in the number of stubble burning in the neighbouring Haryana and Punjab.
Earlier SAFAR, had said that pollutants from the stubble burning only contributed to nearly 5% on Tuesday of the PM2.5 levels, but added that it is likely to go up in the coming days as more and more farm fires are lit.
Stubble burning is happening in both Punjab and Haryana despite a ban on it as farmers find it more easy and convenient to clear the field for the next crop.
BCCL/ FILE
Various attempts to discourage farmers from resorting to burning the crop residual has so far failed as the farmers say there are no alternatives.
This year, with Haryana, in the midst of an election season the implementation of the stubble burning ban is going to be a particularly challenging task in the state.
Meanwhile, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat air pollution has come into effect in Delhi on Tuesday.
As part of the measures, the use of diesel generators has been banned. This will be followed by other steps like stopping the entry of trucks and closing brick kilns and stone crushers in and around the region.
BCCL/ FILE
The odd-even traffic restrictions for private vehicles will also come into force next month.
Even with all these restrictions in place, the air quality in and around Delhi is expected to plummet to severe levels later this months, during the Diwali season.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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