The national capital’s air quality turned “poor” on Sunday as wind direction changed to northwesterly, increasing the contribution of smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring States to the pollution in the city. However on Sunday, pollution levels in Delhi shot up by around 100 points at air quality index (AQI), the Central Pollution Control Board data showed. The surface and boundary layer wind direction is northwesterly now.”“An increase in stubble burning in the northern part of India has been observed. Despite a ban on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, farmers continue to defy it amid lack of financial incentives. The Delhi government has on several occasions attributed the dip in the air quality to rampant stubble burning in neighbouring States.

Source: The Hindu October 20, 2019 12:56 UTC