Delhi air pollution reaches highest level in 287 days
The Commission for Air Quality Management issued show-cause notices to Punjab officials following a rise in stubble-burning incidents.
Delhi's air pollution worsened on Tuesday as the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 350, the highest level in 287 days, according to Urban Acres.
Ten monitoring stations in the capital recorded pollution levels exceeding 400, placing them in the severe category. The Decision Support System estimated that vehicle emissions accounted for 15.8 per cent of the pollution, while crop-residue burning contributed 15.3 per cent.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which operates under the Union environment ministry, issued show-cause notices to deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police in Punjab's Gurdaspur and Kapurthala districts. The notices follow an increase in farm-fire incidents in those areas.
Data from the CAQM showed that Gurdaspur had 100 stubble-burning incidents between September 15 and November 2, compared to 53 incidents in the same period last year. The notices require district administrations and police leadership to explain the rise and the measures taken to control the fires.
Satellite observations on November 2 recorded 219 farm-fire incidents across six states. Punjab had the most with 98 incidents, followed by Rajasthan with 67, Madhya Pradesh with 48, Uttar Pradesh with four, and Haryana with two.
Between September 15 and November 2, the six states recorded a total of 3,535 stubble-burning incidents. The farm-fire season is expected to continue until November 30, and authorities in Gurdaspur and Kapurthala must respond to the CAQM notices.
