NASA Images Reveal Stubble Burning Behind Increase In Air Pollution, Thick Smog In Delhi

While the national capital enjoyed relatively clean air for three months, the air quality dipped to ¡®poor¡¯ category last week, and further dropped to 'very poor' category this week.

Latest images from US space agency NASA show several occurrences of stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab and adjoining areas of Pakistan.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi touched the 301 mark by 10 pm on Sunday.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

A layer of thick smog lingered over Delhi on October 13-14 as the air quality plummeted to 'very poor' category, days before strict measures to fight air pollution come into force under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

NASA

NASA

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed AQI in Anand Vihar, Wazirpur, Vivek Vihar, Mundka, Bawana, Jahangirpuri was 327, 323, 317, 309, 302 and 300 respectively.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) issued a health advisory, asking people to reduce heavy exertion.

The advisory reads: "people with heart or kind diseases and children should avoid longer and heavy exertion. Everyone may experience health effects, significant increase in respiratory problems."

The deterioration continued due to change in wind direction to northwesterly, local emissions from effigy-burning during Dusshera and falling mercury, apart from stubble burning.

CPCB recently wrote to state pollution control boards and other government agencies on, asking them to take appropriate measures to control dust and pollution.

AFP/ FILE

In letters sent to the municipal bodies in Delhi and NCR states as well as other agencies, CPCB asked for weekly action taken reports to be submitted and called for precautions to be taken during construction activities, particularly with dust, waste and open burning.

Forecasting agency SAFAR said low wind speeds were trapping pollutants and warned a further dip in air quality in the coming days.

A SAFAR bulletin said, ¡°The southwest monsoon has started to retreat now. Wind speeds continue to be slow and variable with predominant direction from the west. Under these conditions, air quality is predicted to deteriorate further. Indications of increased fire activity during the last 48 hours are visible from satellite imagery and a further deterioration of AQI is expected for the next two days.¡±