Delhi air quality deteriorates as Punjab stubble burning incidents spike
Air pollution in the capital worsened on Monday following Diwali celebrations and a sharp rise in farm fires in Punjab.
Delhi experienced a thick blanket of smoke on Monday, the day after Diwali, as air quality levels declined. According to The Pioneer, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an AQI of 370 at 9.05 am, with eight monitoring stations recording readings above 400.
Sonia Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 463, followed by Jahangirpuri at 450. In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 371, while Noida, Faridabad, and Gurugram recorded 338, 323, and 309 respectively.
The pollution spike occurred after firecrackers were used in several neighbourhoods despite restrictions. The Air Quality Early Warning System predicted that Delhi would enter the severe category on November 9 and stay there for a few days, citing low wind speeds and a low ventilation index.
Punjab recorded 1,152 stubble-burning incidents on November 8, its highest single-day count this season, according to the Deccan Herald. This brought the cumulative seasonal total to 4,459 incidents.
Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra alleged a conspiracy behind the rise in Punjab farm fires. Mishra claimed satellite data showed incidents rose from approximately 125 on November 7 to 1,200 on Diwali evening. He alleged unidentified people set fields on fire while farmers were celebrating at home and urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order an investigation.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rejected these allegations. AAP media in-charge Baltej Pannu accused BJP leaders of blaming Punjab for Delhi's pollution before paddy harvesting had even begun.