Delhi Faces Worsening Air Pollution; High Dependence on Stubble Burning, Transportation and Households Contribute to Crisis

Delhi AQI Hits ‘Severe’ Levels as 40% Pollution Attributed to Biomass Burning, with Internal Factors Like Transportation and Residential Emissions Also Playing Significant Role; Government Urged to Enhance Public Transportation and Address Year-Round Pollution Sources.

Delhi's air pollution crisis is worsening, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) averaging at 426, putting it in the 'severe' category. Major cities in the Indo-Gangetic plains are also reporting hazardous air quality levels.
Biomass burning, which includes emissions due to stubble burning as well as fires for domestic heating and cooking, contributes to around 40% of Delhi's air pollution. However, this pollution source is not uniformly distributed throughout the year.
The city's own transportation system reportedly contributes to 11% of the city's air pollution, making it a significant internal contributor. Other internal contributors include residential emissions, peripheral industries, burning of waste, road dust and construction activities.
While the Delhi government has taken steps towards curbing pollution, including promising a greater number of electric buses and banning of overage vehicles, it should also focus more on enhancing public transport infrastructure and curbing pollution from power plants and industries.
Farmers' practice of stubble burning in neighboring states, while significant, cannot solely be blamed for bad air quality. While Delhi deals with 'stubble burning', it overlooks major sources of pollution within its own boundaries, according to environmental experts.