Air Quality Turns ‘Very Severe’ In Delhi-NCR; Stubble Burning Major Contributor: Data

The burning of stubble by the farmers in Punjab and Haryana continues despite the ban due to which the air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) has deteriorated severely, officials said.

According to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) India, the Air Quality Index (AQI) docked at 412 in Delhi which falls in the "very severe" category.

According to the data, the contribution of stubble burning to the haze and air pollution in Delhi-NCR was 35 per cent on Wednesday (30 October), it was estimated to be 24 per cent on Thursday (31 October) and is likely to be 25 per cent on Friday (1 November).

Even as the Central government provides 50 to 80 per cent subsidy to farmers for purchasing the essential technology and machinery, so that instead of burning the straw, they can convert them into fertiliser, the problem of stubble burning still exists.

A government source said on Thursday that this facility to farmers is being provided by the state governments, and the Centre has spent crores of rupees in the last few years.

A farmer from Sirsa in Haryana, Sanjay Nyol said most farmers mix the stubble in the soil using machines as they are aware of the environmental risks of burning the straw. But incidents of stubble burning are still reported from some places, and action has also been taken.

Environmental experts say that stubble burning is the biggest reason for the haze that has enveloped Delhi-NCR since the last few days.

An expert from TERI, Sumit Sharma said 30-60 per cent of fog cover and spike in air pollution in Delhi-NCR in the current season is due to stubble burning.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)