Crop Residue Burning and Dussehra Celebrations Worsen Delhi’s Air Quality

Crop Residue Burning and Dussehra Celebrations Worsen Delhi's Air Quality

VoM News Desk | October 25, 2023 | 02:03 PM IST | Breaking News, Climate & Environment, Delhi | Follow on Google News

Crop Residue Burning and Dussehra Celebrations Worsen Delhi’s Air Quality

Crop Residue Burning and Dussehra Celebrations Worsen Delhi’s Air Quality

Dussehra and Crop Residue Burning

While the nation celebrated Dussehra by burning Ravana effigies, farmers in Punjab escalated crop residue burning, with 360 farm fires reported in a single day, marking the highest count this season. Some farmers set stubble on fire to protest against government agencies. They pointed out that no action is taken against those burning Ravana effigies during Dussehra and firecrackers during Diwali.

Contribution to Air Quality Woes

The smoke from Dussehra celebrations, unfavorable meteorological conditions, emissions from stubble burning, and firecrackers in the Delhi region, combined with local pollution sources, have led to the national capital’s air quality remaining in the “poor category” for the third consecutive day.

Air Quality Worsening

On Tuesday, Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) deteriorated from 220 to 238 at 10 am, with neighboring areas like Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, and Greater Noida reporting varying AQI levels. Delhi’s AQI is expected to fluctuate between the “poor” and “very poor” categories in the coming days, according to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.

Government Measures

Last month, Delhi imposed a comprehensive ban on firecrackers within the city. The government has also instructed district magistrates to enforce pollution mitigation measures, identified eight additional pollution hotspots, and deployed special teams to curb pollution sources.

Mitigating Air Pollution

The Delhi government launched a 15-point action plan in September to mitigate winter air pollution. This plan focuses on addressing dust pollution, vehicular emissions, and open burning of garbage, all of which contribute to the city’s air quality challenges.

VoM News Desk

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