Local emissions top Delhi's bad air mix

Vehicular emissions and pollution from the neighbouring regions were on Monday the major reasons behind Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, which was the season’s worst for the day, data from the Union ministry of earth sciences showed.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Smoke due to stubble burning was the third major contributor to the pollution in the city, according to the Decision Support System (DSS), which estimates the contribution of different sources of pollution to Delhi’s particulate matter (PM) 2.5 every day. According to DSS, vehicles contributed around 13.9% to the “very poor” air quality on Monday, followed by 13.1% pollution from Gautam Budh Nagar, while the share of stubble burning share for the day was pegged at around 9.8%.

All of these combined, apart from other minor sources of pollution, both in the city and outside, led to a deterioration in the air quality with a reading of 347 (very poor air, according to the Central Pollution Control Board) from 325 a day ago. Forecasts show that the air quality index (AQI) is likely to remain “very poor” over the next three days, with “severe” air unlikely till November 8, according to the Early Warning System.

Meanwhile, farm fires continue to rage across the northern plains, with Punjab on Monday recording over 1,000 fires for the second consecutive day. However, a favourable wind direction of easterly-southeasterly since Saturday is preventing considerable stubble intrusion to the Capital, according to the weather department.