Early dip in stubble fires offers brief relief, but pollution threat looms

Delhi's brief reprieve from pollution, a welcome breath of fresh air during the monsoon months, might just linger a little longer. As the first gusts of the stubble-burning season sweep in, the skies are showing a promising change - incidents of crop residue burning have plummeted by nearly 65 per cent.

- NITIN KUMAR

Between September 15 and October 8, 2024, only 546 such cases were recorded, a significant drop from 1,565 during the same period last year.

While this dip in stubble burning has helped keep Delhi's air cleaner, the longevity of this relief hinges on the efficient enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The crackdown on sources like vehicular emissions and construction dust will be crucial, especially as the stubble-burning season continues. Yet, if even a "slipstream" of non-compliance occurs, the air quality could take a turn for the worse.

Environment analysts say fire burning has just begun, with peak stubble burning expected in late October through early November. Combined with vehicular, industrial, and power plant emissions, as well as unfavorable weather conditions, this could significantly impact air quality in the coming weeks.