New Delhi: The deteriorating air quality in the national capital has become one of the biggest concerns for the residents and government with the air quality index (AQI) crossing the ‘severe’ mark at certain places. With winter a few days away from the city, apprehensions are growing about what Delhiites will be breathing when wind speed goes very low as it happens during cold weather.
Now, as per the data of the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution has risen from 5% to 35% in just 10 days.
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According to the data, stubble burning accounted for 3.19% of Delhi's pollution on October 21 which rose to 35.17% on November 1 ( a day after Diwali). Here's how the share of stubble burning grew over 10-11 days:
Oct 21 – 3.19%
Oct 22 – 7.9%
Oct 23 – 15.9%
Oct 24 – 14.5%
Oct 25 – 14.6%
Oct 26 – 5.5%
Oct 27 – 3.3%
Oct 30 – 8.4%
Oct 31 – 27.6%
Nov 1 – 35.17%
Nov 2 – 14.9%
Apart from this, farm fires have also increased in the last one week, almost doubling in Punjab from 1,983 on Oct 27 to 3,165 on Nov 3. Data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) states that the total such fire counts till Sunday (Nov 3) stood at 7,518.
The state-wise count stood at:
Punjab – 3,165
Madhya Pradesh – 1,758
UP – 1,062
Haryana – 781
Rajasthan – 740
Delhi – 12
As per the information, the maximum farm fires were reported in Punjab’s Amritsar.