As the battle against air pollution in northern India continues, authorities in Haryana on Tuesday arrested 16 farmers for burning paddy stubble, a practice that is said to be contributing to the steep decline in air quality in the region around New Delhi. As winter approaches, the national capital regularly faces heightened pollution, with factors such as vehicle emissions, construction dust, and smoke from nearby states exacerbating the situation.

 

Why is Delhi's air so polluted?

 

New Delhi, consistently ranked as the world’s most polluted capital by Swiss group IQAir for the past four years, this year has also experienced a significant drop in air quality during winter. Lower temperatures trap harmful pollutants, while smoke from stubble burning in neighboring agricultural states like Punjab and Haryana worsens the situation. These pollutants, combined with local emissions, lead to hazardous levels of smog that blanket the city.

Delhi's Air Quality Index hit alarming levels this week, reading at 320 and hence classifying the air as "very poor." According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi stands out as the second most polluted city globally, following Lahore, Pakistan, as of Tuesday.

 

What measures are being taken?

 

Local authorities are implementing a range of emergency measures. Delhi's environment ministry has warned that the city's AQI is likely to remain in the "very poor" category for several days due to adverse weather conditions. Water sprinkling on roads has been ordered to minimize dust, while steeper parking fees have been levied to dissuade personal vehicle usage; instead, people are being urged to use public transport, such as buses and the metro.

Despite these efforts, environmentalist Vimlendu Jha criticized the measures as short-term fixes, stating, "These are only emergency measures... This air pollution mitigation needs a long-term comprehensive solution rather than these ad hoc measures.”

 

Stubble burning in focus

In Haryana, Kaithal police confirmed 22 cases of stubble burning had been filed, resulting in 16 farmer arrests. All those arrested were later released on bail since stubble burning remains a bailable offense. "It’s a serious issue," noted Birbhan, the deputy superintendent of police, adding that over 300 farmers have been fined, and investigations into nearly 100 more cases are ongoing.

Although stubble burning is prohibited, most of the farmers burn stubble at a rapid speed to clear fields before the next cycle of the crop. The smoke from the place creates such an extensive smog level that the authorities are forced to control the criminals.

 

Delhi’s air quality crisis

 

While measures like water sprinkling and increased parking fees are aimed at providing immediate relief, experts argue that these actions are not enough to address the broader issue. A sustainable solution calls for a long-term mitigation approach to the recurrent pollution crisis, and environmentalists ask both state and central governments to work on eventual comprehensive policies that reduce emissions and control practices like stubble burning.

For now, people in Delhi are preparing for another season of hazardous air quality with the capital shrouded in thick layers of smog.