Increase in stubble burning cases, Delhi air quality affected
NEW DELHI: As air quality slips to 'severe' category on Tuesday, agencies have revealed that stubble burning in the neighbouring states have increased, which is the reason for deteriorating air in Delhi. According to latest staellite images shared by NASA, there is an increase in stubble burning in the last 24 hours.
“The stubble plume from north-west regions has become one of the significant factors in adversely affecting Delhi's air quality. The effective stubble fire counts of Haryana and Punjab have increased from 1654 to 2577 during the past 24 hours, which is a matter of extreme concern for the residents of Delhi,” said a statement by the Delhi government.
Central-government based agency SAFAR has also shared its data saying that Punjab and Haryana has seen a spike in stubble burning cases. “As evident from Safar-multi-satellite fire product that effective stubble fire counts of Haryana & Punjab have increased from 1654 to 2577 during the past 24 hours after showing a noticeable dip on October 27,” said the report.
Speaking to Millennium Post, M P George, Scientist at Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) said that “outside factors” are major reasons for air pollution spike in the national Capital. However, he added that AQI doesn't define the condition of air quality. “There is a difference between AQI and GRAP. GRAP is based on the actual value. As per GRAP the air quality hasn't reached severe, however, it is almost reaching there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders on Tuesday blamed the Center and the neighbouring states for not taking stern action against the increasing numbers of stubble burning cases this year. According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the state recorded 9,600 incidents of stubble burning till October 27 last year. “This increasing numbers of stubble burning cases caused the spike in pollution but neither the centre nor the state government of the neighbouring states has done anything," said senior AAP leader Dilip Pandey.