The latest satellite images from NASA depicted stubble burning on a large scale in Delhi and its nearby areas on Tuesday. The images were later shared by the government of Delhi as the AQI of the region degraded to ‘very poor’ category.
Stubble burning is carried out so as to clear fields. Although steps have been taken to cut down this process, it continues to be a pain for the nearby areas. However, there has been a positive indication this year, as the images presented have shown a slight reduction in the process in Punjab and Haryana.
The adjoining areas of Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Loni Dehat had already crossed 300 AQI mark, while Delhi’s AQI is hovering over 250.
The impact of stubble burning along with the slow pace of surface wind is making a deadly combination. Although the air quality is likely to improve marginally, as a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to approach the Western Himalayas around October 18, AQI would settle between ‘poor and very poor' category only.
In the wake of worsening air quality, the authorities have already banned generator in Delhi except for emergency services.
Delhi Environment Minister Kailash Gehlot in his letter to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the impact of stubble burning from the neighbouring areas has always resulted in high PM 2.5 levels over Delhi and the adjoining region.
Image Credits – NASA, NDTV, The Weather Channel
Any information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather
