A major source of the smog at this time of year across northern India, including New Delhi, is farmers burning the stubble of the previous crop to prepare for new plantings in November. A spokesman of the federal environment ministry declined comment on federal and state governments bickering over funds to tackle the problem of stubble burning. The provincial leaders of New Delhi and neighbouring Haryana states, after exchanging barbs on Twitter for days, agreed on Wednesday on measures to control the smog – in 2018. Its an emergency — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 8, 2017Share your concern over stubble burning and pollution @ArvindKejriwal, Centre alone can solve the problem given its national implications. “We’ve tried our best to tackle the situation, but as policymakers we’ve failed to address the main problem of stubble burning,” the government official said.

Source: The Express Tribune November 16, 2017 09:33 UTC