Delhi Post-Dussehra Smog: Firecrackers vs Stubble Burning as AQI Drops and GRAP-1 Invoked
Delhi's air quality slipped into the poor category following Dussehra celebrations, renewing debate over primary pollution sources in the National Capital Region. While political accusations pointed towards stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, research from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi shows that firecrackers during festive seasons contribute significantly more to immediate toxic elemental PM2.5 levels than farm fires. Analysis indicates farm fires reached a five-year low, yet toxic air worsened due to fine particles, soot, and metals from fireworks alongside persistent vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, and road dust. Compounding the situation are seasonal meteorological factors, including falling temperatures, weak winds, and an El Niño pattern that limits unseasonal rain and western disturbances, preventing the dispersal of pollutants. In response, authorities have enforced Graded Response Action Plan Stage 1 measures across Delhi NCR, imposing restrictions on coal and wood stoves and mandating water sprinkling and covering of raw materials at construction sites.