Although Delhi State Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the lowest level of pollution was recorded in October this year, with the AQI deteriorating in the last three days due to increase in crackers and stubble burning.
However, he said, the pollution is less than last year, even as the overall air quality of Delhi has reached the ‘severe’ category with an overall AQI at 531.
“Some people deliberately asked people to burst crackers during Diwali festival. The opposition was underestimating the fact that bursting of firecrackers increases pollution.”
He also said that according to NASA photographs, about 3,500 stubble burning incidents are taking place in neighboring states.
Stubble burning in neighboring states
Government air quality Forecasting agency SAFAR said during the day that stubble burning accounted for 36% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution on Friday, the highest ever this season.
Gufran Baig, Founder-Project Director, SAFAR, said, “Delhi’s overall air quality has dropped to the upper end of the ‘severe’ category with additional fireworks emissions. The share of stubble emissions has reached 36% today.”
“Local winds have intensified, and now rapid dispersal (of pollutants) is expected. Without any more firecracker emissions, the AQI will improve to the ‘very poor’ category by tonight, although the stubble contribution remains roughly the same. is expected (on Saturday),” he said.
On Thursday, farm fires accounted for 25 percent of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution.
Last year, the share of stubble burning in Delhi’s pollution reached 42% on 5 November. In 2019, burning of crop residue accounted for 44% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution as on 1 November.
The concentration of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution was 32% on Diwali last year, compared to 19% in 2019.
pollution in delhi
A thick layer of fog enveloped the Delhi-NCR region on Friday after a massive burst of crackers on Diwali night amid intensification of stubble burning.
Ahead of the festive season, the Delhi government had announced a complete ban on firecrackers by 1 January 2022 and launched an aggressive campaign against the sale and use of firecrackers.
To curb air pollution, Gopal Rai on Friday fitted an anti-smog gun to improve air quality in the national capital. It has been installed in ITO, considered one of the most polluted areas of the capital due to the traffic at the crossroads.
“We are installing several movable and immovable anti-smog machines to curb pollution in Delhi. 10 large movable anti-smog machines will be on the roads. We are also starting the process of sprinkling water in places where pollution is severe. ” Rai said.
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