NEW DELHI: The share of stubble burning in pollutants in Delhi’s air was 3% on Monday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Stubble burning has started increasing in north India with Punjab and Haryana recording 403 and 86 fire counts, respectively, on Monday. The wind direction is currently favourable for the transport of such emissions to Delhi. A haze appeared over the city in the evening as wind speed slowed down. Delhi’s AQI was 237 in the “poor” category on Monday and is likely to stay the same for the next three days. Data of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), which follows the standard protocol 2021 notified by Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), showed that paddy residue burning events almost doubled in Punjab in 24 hours. Punjab had 206 fire counts on Sunday. The cumulative data of farm fires between September 15 and October 17 in Punjab was 1,847 in 2022. During the same period, 2021 and 2020 saw higher fire counts of 2,389 and 6,491, respectively. So far, Haryana has reported 330 stubble burning counts against 925 in 2021 and 1,026 in 2020. Track the pollution level in your cityGufran Beig, founder project director, SAFAR, said, “The share of fine particles in PM10 is slowly increasing and has touched 52%, a typical sign of winter onset and increasing influence of burning emissions. Transport level winds are blowing from northern regions, but due to relatively fewer burning areas and insufficient speed, the share of farm fires in Delhi’s AQI is almost negligible (3%).” Delhi’s air quality deteriorates to ‘poor’ category ahead of DiwaliProfessor Vinay Sehgal, principal scientist and in-charge of Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space laboratory at IARI, said, “With the progress in the harvesting season, the daily count of farm fires is expected to increase.” VK Soni, head, environment and research centre, India Meteorological Department, said fire counts were rising and had started impacting Delhi’s air quality due to northwesterly winds. “Calm winds in the evening and night are causing stagnation and hampering dispersion of pollutants. The wind direction is expected to change to easterly on October 19, so it may minimise the impact of stubble burning,” he added. CAQM said DCs/DMs of NCR and Punjab informed the committee that they would ensure a substantial reduction in stubble burning cases. CAQM said the current year had so far seen a reduction from 3,431 to 1,695 fire counts compared with the corresponding period last year. According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, air quality was likely to remain in the “poor” category on Tuesday. It would improve marginally, but remain in the “poor” category on Wednesday and Thursday.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/stubble-burning-share-in-delhi-air-now-3/articleshow/94925879.cms