Breathing easy in the National Capital Region

Given the umbilical link between winter pollution in the NCR and stubble burning — at least for three to four weeks, it is the difference between poor and very poor or severe air quality — Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh's plans to reduce land under non-basmati rice cultivation by 500,000 hectares is a breath of fresh air.

- 

The Capital's three neighbours are the biggest stubble-burners in the region (with Punjab accounting for the bulk), and the proposal made in a report submitted to the Supreme Court is based on the states' responses. To that end, they must ensure a meaningful follow-through.