Despite Reduced Crop Burning, Delhi Air Quality Remains Extremely Poor

This year, Delhi-NCR experienced significantly less smoke from crop stubble. Yet, air pollution in the capital remains alarmingly high during the winter months. Vehicular emissions and industrial activities have emerged as the primary contributors to the deteriorating air quality.

According to Sharanjeet Kaur, Deputy Program Manager of the Clean Air Unit at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), new pollution hotspots are emerging across the region.

Decline in Crop Stubble Pollution
Smog formation in smaller towns across the NCR has intensified, even as the duration of smog has increased. Floods in Punjab and Haryana this year led to a significant reduction in stubble burning incidents. On most days, stubble-related pollution contributed less than 5% of the total. However, between 5–15% pollution was recorded on certain days, with peak levels observed on 12th and 13th November.

Local Sources Demand Urgent Attention
CSE’s report highlights the urgent need for Delhi-NCR to focus on controlling local pollution sources. The report, which covers pollution data from October to 15th November, emphasizes that winter air quality management requires stricter local interventions.

Worrying Levels of PM2.5 and Other Pollutants
According to Anumita Raychaudhary, Executive Director at ThinkTank, the rise in PM2.5, along with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) levels, is a major concern. During the reporting period, NO₂ levels exceeded 22% on several days. PM2.5 remained the dominant pollutant on most days, accounting for 34 out of 59 days, while CO was the primary pollutant on two days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in November largely fluctuated between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe.’

Emerging Pollution Hotspots
In 2018, Delhi recorded 13 pollution hotspots—a figure that largely remains unchanged. North and East Delhi continue to top the list of most polluted areas. From January to November, Jahangirpuri was the worst-affected, followed by Bawana, Wazirabad, Anand Vihar, Mundka, Rohini, and Ashok Vihar. New hotspots have also emerged in Vivek Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Alipur, Siri Fort, and Patparganj, indicating an expanding pollution challenge.