Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens: Stubble Burning and Other Factors Discussed
As winter approaches, Delhi’s air quality is deteriorating, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385 recorded, indicating ‘very poor’ conditions. Stubble burning, the practice of burning crop residues, is a significant contributor to pollution, but experts emphasize it’s not the sole cause. Sagnik Dey from IIT Delhi highlighted that stubble burning contributes only 6-8% to Delhi’s annual pollution, though it rises to 25-30% in October and November. Other factors like vehicular and industrial pollution also play a role.
At a workshop on ‘Climate Resilient Agriculture in India,’ experts discussed solutions to stubble burning. Lindeen Shukla from ICAR-IARI stressed the need for practical solutions for farmers, while TK Das suggested using crop residues for compost, animal fodder, and biofuel. Rabindra Nath Padaria noted government initiatives like providing machinery to farmers and promoting entrepreneurship through selling crop residues.
Climate Trends’ analysis showed a reduction in stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, though Punjab still faces significant challenges. Fire incidents in these states have increased Delhi’s AQI by 103 units, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to manage fires and improve air quality.
Doubts Revealed
Air Quality -: Air quality refers to how clean or polluted the air is. Good air quality means the air is clean and safe to breathe, while poor air quality means the air is dirty and can be harmful to health.
Stubble Burning -: Stubble burning is when farmers set fire to the leftover crop stalks in their fields after harvesting. This is done to clear the field quickly for the next crop, but it causes a lot of smoke and pollution.
Pollution -: Pollution is when harmful substances are added to the environment, making it dirty and unsafe. In this context, it refers to the dirty air caused by smoke, dust, and other pollutants.
Vehicular Pollution -: Vehicular pollution is the pollution caused by vehicles like cars, buses, and trucks. They release harmful gases and particles into the air, contributing to air pollution.
Industrial Pollution -: Industrial pollution comes from factories and industries. They release smoke, chemicals, and other pollutants into the air, which can harm the environment and people’s health.
Crop Residues -: Crop residues are the parts of the plants left in the field after the main crop has been harvested. Farmers often burn these residues, which contributes to air pollution.
Punjab and Haryana -: Punjab and Haryana are states in northern India. They are major agricultural regions, and stubble burning in these states significantly affects air quality in nearby areas like Delhi.
