Delhi pollution level dips to 'very poor' category amid stubble burning

Amidst increasing levels of air pollution in the national capital region, close to 700 cases of stubble burning were reported from Punjab and Haryana between September 21-29, according to sources in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

New Delhi: People in Delhi are gasping for a breath of fresh air as the air quality of the national capital has reached the 'very poor' category on Wednesday.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 332, in 'very poor' category. In Anand Vihar, the air quality was very poor category in the morning as the AQI at PM 10 was 428.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 is 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 is marked as 'severe/hazardous'.

Amidst increasing levels of air pollution in the national capital region, close to 700 cases of stubble burning were reported from Punjab and Haryana between September 21-29, according to sources in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFF & CC).

According to the data, between the nine-day period, Active Fire Events (AFE) registered in Punjab and Haryana this year were 579 and 120. Last year, AFE registered in Punjab and Haryana during the same time period was 208 and 27 respectively.

The Delhi government has already launched a campaign, "War against Pollution" (Yuddh Pradushan ke Viruddh) on October 9.