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Tackling Delhi’s annual pollution crisis: Measures are in place, how effective are they?

Winter is just around the corner in Delhi. The days grow shorter, there is a slight chill in the air — and there is a yellow haze, a cocktail of pollutants, hanging over the city like a shroud. This year, the city saw its first bad air day on October 13 when the Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to the ‘poor’ category (an AQI between 201 and 300). Compared to 2015, except for the 2021 pandemic year, this was very delayed. The days that followed oscillated between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’. On Sunday, Delhi’s average air quality was in the ‘very poor’ category at 356 — the worst in the country, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Delhi Environment Minister has warned that the next 15 days are crucial with Diwali festivities (on October 31) and stubble-burning season in the neighbouring states (Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana) coinciding this year. Year after year, interventions have been planned — pushing for public transport, curbing dust pollution, a firecracker ban — to curb pollution. The Indian Express looks at what’s been promised and what’s been done on the ground. According to a 2015 IIT-Kanpur study on sources of pollution in Delhi, among the top contributors to PM 10 (particulate matter of diameter of 10 micrometers or less) emissions annually were road dust at 56%, industrial point sources at 10% and vehicles at 9%. The top four contributors to PM 2.5 (particulate matter of diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) emissions were road dust (38%), vehicles (20%), domestic fuel burning (12%), and industrial point sources (11%). The Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) analysis of data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management shows that among local emission sources, around half of Delhi’s particulate pollution during winter months is from the transport sector.

Haryana farm fires up till mid Oct, but on a decline after that

Gurgaon: Are measures to cut down farm fires working? There are indications, but it's still too early to conclude, experts said on Sunday. The count of farm fires in Haryana was up from the previous years till mid-October, but the trend appears to have changed directions since, as fewer incidents of stubble burning are being recorded in the state in the last ten days. According to satellite data collated by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Haryana did not record any active fire locations (AFLs) in September before 2023. Last year, it reported 75 AFLs over the month, and 81 this year. From Sept 15 till Oct 15, 559 active fire locations (AFLs) were traced in Haryana this year. This count was slightly lower from farm fires seen in the same period last year, but a larger gap from 168 AFLs reported in 2022. Experts said it's possible that farmers started clearing tracts of land early this year because of lack of rainfall in September and early October compared to the previous years. Data from Oct 16 shows a declining trend in the number of farm fires. Between Oct 16 and Oct 26, the state recorded 141 farm fires, a 64% decline from 396 reported in the same timeframe last year. It was also a 90% decline from 1,471 AFLs reported in the duration in 2020. "September this year experienced less rainfall compared to the last four years, leading to an early onset of farm fires. Consequently, fires were dispersed over a larger number of days rather than being concentrated towards the end of October, as was previously the case," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Tiwari said the overall count of farm fires may indicate that farmers in the state were adopting new technologies to manage paddy stubble, and/or were deterred from setting alight their fields due to surveillance from authorities. "The current numbers indicate that this year could potentially see the least active stubble burning season in the past four years. But predictions can be wrong, and it could still turn out to be an entirely different year. Moreover, these numbers are derived from satellite data, and the ground situation might be different," he said. On air quality in Delhi-NCR still being poor, Tiwari said farm fires were not the only cause of pollution in the region. "Air quality of Delhi-NCR is a complex issue, and it is not solely dependent on farm fires. Each component needs to be addressed to effectively tackle pollution," he added. Officials of Haryana's agriculture department told TOI that sowing on 50% of fields for the next round of crops is already over in the state. "We expect the number of farm fires to be the lowest this year. It's because of improved agricultural practices, increased awareness among farmers, and effective interventions aimed at mitigating fire risks during the harvest season," an official said. But experts cautioned that it was premature to draw conclusions as farm fires are likely to increase from Nov 1. "The worst is yet to come. Based on my observations, the region typically experiences peak burning in Haryana from Nov 5 onwards, sometimes extending into the second week. Yesterday (Oct 26), the PM 2.5 contribution from stubble burning in Delhi was 14.6%, and this is likely to rise to 30-40% after Diwali," said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at Research and Energy for Clean Air (CREA).

Sikkim government to implement odd-even scheme to ease traffic congestion

Gangtok: The Sikkim government will soon implement the odd-even scheme for both government and private vehicles in the state, officials said. Only the Gangtok Municipal Area — more especially, the major National Highway between Mayfair Fatak and GICI, Zero Point — will be subject to this limitation, an official said on Friday. The goal of this project is to lessen traffic on the busy highway. The date of its implementation has not yet been disclosed by the authorities. According to an official letter from the State Home Department, high-ranking officials will be exempted from the rule, and officers at the level of the additional secretary and higher officials will receive red exemption stickers from the department’s protocol section. The letter said that officers who hold the level of Joint Secretary or lower position and may also require an exemption should submit their information by October 26 along with appropriate explanations for higher authorities to consider. Notably, Delhi was the first city to use the odd-even scheme in 2016. Using license plate numbers, the program bans cars from the road. Private automobiles with registration numbers that finish in an odd number are permitted to travel on odd dates, while even-digit registration numbers are permitted on even dates. Reducing carbon emissions from non-electric vehicles, a significant source of air pollution, was the main goal of Delhi’s odd-even scheme. The Odd-Even scheme, which typically goes into operation during winter in Delhi due to severe air pollution, has been questioned by experts for its efficacy. An analysis of the Odd-Even scheme’s results over the past five years has revealed that it mostly affects those who commute in their own cars rather than reducing Delhi’s pollution. According to Vivek Chattopadhyay, Principal Program Manager in the Centre for Science and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Unit, Delhi’s pollution levels began to rise in September. It is anticipated that by mid-October, the air quality may deteriorate due to shifting weather patterns and a lowering wind speed. Chattopadhyay asserted that even if the government begins using the Odd-Even strategy to reduce pollution early on, there would be more issues and fewer advantages. He said that the Odd-Even rule should only be applied in extreme cases where there is no other option. He added that this strategy should only be implemented for a brief time frame of four to six days. (IANS)

Sikkim govt to implement odd-even scheme to ease traffic congestion

he Sikkim government will soon implement the odd-even scheme for both government and private vehicles in the state, officials said. Only the Gangtok Municipal Area -- more especially, the major National Highway between Mayfair Fatak and GICI, Zero Point -- will be subject to this limitation, an official said on Friday. The goal of this project is to lessen traffic on the busy highway. The date of its implementation has not yet been disclosed by the authorities. According to an official letter from the State Home Department, high-ranking officials will be exempted from the rule, and officers at the level of the additional secretary and higher officials will receive red exemption stickers from the department's protocol section. The letter said that officers who hold the level of Joint Secretary or lower position and may also require an exemption should submit their information by October 26 along with appropriate explanations for higher authorities to consider. Notably, Delhi was the first city to use the odd-even scheme in 2016. Using license plate numbers, the program bans cars from the road. Private automobiles with registration numbers that finish in an odd number are permitted to travel on odd dates, while even-digit registration numbers are permitted on even dates. Reducing carbon emissions from non-electric vehicles, a significant source of air pollution, was the main goal of Delhi's odd-even scheme. The Odd-Even scheme, which typically goes into operation during winter in Delhi due to severe air pollution, has been questioned by experts for its efficacy. An analysis of the Odd-Even scheme's results over the past five years has revealed that it mostly affects those who commute in their own cars rather than reducing Delhi's pollution. According to Vivek Chattopadhyay, Principal Program Manager in the Centre for Science and Environment's Air Pollution Control Unit, Delhi's pollution levels began to rise in September. It is anticipated that by mid-October, the air quality may deteriorate due to shifting weather patterns and a lowering wind speed. Chattopadhyay asserted that even if the government begins using the Odd-Even strategy to reduce pollution early on, there would be more issues and fewer advantages. He said that the Odd-Even rule should only be applied in extreme cases where there is no other option. He added that this strategy should only be implemented for a brief time frame of four to six days.

Not Just In Winter, Act All Year, Say Experts As Delhi Air Turns Toxic Despite GRAP-2

The measures outlined under the Graded Response Action Plan should be implemented all year round, not just in winter, say experts as Delhi’s air quality levels continue to deteriorate despite enforcement of stage 2 of GRAP. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed 300, indicating high concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10. The latest forecast from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune suggests the AQI could plunge into severe category over the next week as the meteorological conditions remain unfavourable. The wind directions have changed to north-westerly, favouring smoke intrusion from stubble burning, while the bursting of firecrackers remains a worry. “Normally, pollution levels begin to surge towards the end of October and early November when temperatures drop and the contribution of stubble burning increases. Even though stage 2 of GRAP has been enforced, it’s insufficient. The actions outlined in it should be implemented all year round, not just in the winter season,” says Shambhavi Shukla, programme manager at the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). WEAK IMPLEMENTATION ON GROUND Under stage 2 of GRAP, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implores people to minimise personal vehicles, shift to public transport and avoid dust-generating activities as well as open burning of waste and biomass. The 11-point action plan also asks pollution-control agencies to start water sprinkling to minimise road dust, carry out vacuum/mechanical sweeping, as well as ensure uninterrupted power supply to discourage the use of diesel generator sets.

2024 GLOBAL NATURE CONSERVATION INDEX

Context: India has been labelled among the worst performers in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index. Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI) It is an index and a valuable tool for assessing the effectiveness of conservation efforts in various countries. It examines various factors like protected area coverage, species at risk, conservation laws, and future trends. This 360-degree view of the index helps countries to find problems, track progress, and make informed decisions to protect our planet and promote sustainable development. It was launched and developed by the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev along with BioDB.com. Its objective is to aid governments, researchers, and organisations to identify and improve conservation policies. Indicators: The NCI is determined based on 25 key indicators and provides a straightforward look at biodiversity and conservation progress across 180 countries in the world. Markers: Its purpose is to assess conservation efforts globally using four markers: land management, threats to biodiversity, capacity and governance, and future trends in biodiversity loss. India’s Ranking in Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2024. India has scored 45.5 out of 100 in the index. India has scored a Global Rank of 176th out of 180 countries. Worst Performers included India, Kiribati (180), Turkey (179), Iraq (178) and Micronesia (177). This makes India one of the worst performers. Reasons for India’s Low Rank Land Management Issues: Inefficient land use has been found to be the major issue with 53% of land converted for urban, industrial, and agricultural uses in India. Marine Conservation: In India, the report noted that the protected areas cover only 0.2 per cent of national waterways. There is a lack of adequate marine protection within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Biodiversity Threats: High levels of soil pollution, fertility loss, poor Nutrition nitrogen index of 0.77 due to high pesticide usage are posing threats to biodiversity. Biodiversity Threats in India Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: The habitat loss and land fragmentation in India are driven by unsustainable agriculture, urbanisation, infrastructure development, and climate change among others. The report highlights that 23,300 square Kilometres of tree cover was lost between 2001 to 2019. Climate Change Impacts: Climate change is severely affecting sensitive ecosystems like alpine regions and coral reefs in India, especially in coastal regions. Species Decline: As per this report, 40% of marine species and 65% of terrestrial species located in Protected Areas of India have seen a decline. Overall there was a significant decline in marine species and terrestrial species accounting for 67.5% and 46.9% of their total populations. High Population Density: The doubling of the population of India since the late 1970s has strained the ecological resources in India. Illegal Wildlife Trade: In terms of illegal wildlife trade, India ranks 4th globally and the sales value is around 15 billion pounds annually. This calls for stronger enforcement and international cooperation to curb the wildlife trade. Sustainable development threats in India: In regard to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) are the areas where major challenges remain. Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) NNI is the ratio of the actual nitrogen content in a crop to the minimum nitrogen which is required for maximum biomass production. It indicates whether the crop has the right proportion of nitrogen for its biomass. Sources: DOWNTOEARTH

Delhi gets slight relief from polluted air, thanks to wind

Delhi’s air quality improved slightly on Thursday, thanks to increased wind speed that helped disperse pollutants. The Air Quality Index (AQI), however, remained “very poor”. The 24-hour average AQI recorded at 4 pm was 306, against 364 a day earlier. Pollution levels in Delhi remained the highest in the country, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed. Out of 241 cities, only Delhi was in the “very poor” category on Thursday — the fourth consecutive day. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the timings of government offices in the Capital may be changed to curb pollution. Among the 13 pollution hotspots, Anand Vihar reported the worst AQI at 431. While the air was in the “severe” category in the early hours, it remained “very poor” throughout the day. Calm winds prevailed on Wednesday and Thursday night, but northerly winds picked up speed in the daytime. Reaching up to 8 kmph, the wind speed was favourable for improving air quality. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, an average speed of at least 10 kmph is favourable for the dispersion of pollutants. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the improvement in air quality to stronger winds. “Not only did the air quality improve, but mist also cleared. This is due to strong winds of 5 to 10 knots speed,” said IMD scientist Krishna Mishra. Particulate Matter (PM) 10 was the prominent pollutant on Thursday — four times the prescribed standard. Even with the influx of northerlies, the pollution level did not increase because the contribution of stubble burning remained insignificant and the change in wind speed enabled the pollutants to disperse, said Anumita Roychowdury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. Going by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) data on Wednesday, 57 cases of stubble burning were reported in Punjab, 15 in Haryana, 68 in Uttar Pradesh and none in Delhi. Between September 15 and October 23, as many as 3,137 cases were detected.

Celebrate Safely: Hidden dangers in Diwali sweets

As Diwali approaches, the excitement and anticipation for the cherished festival grow, leading to a surge in demand for traditional sweets and treats. However, this heightened consumer interest also leads to rising adulteration by vendors seeking to make a quick buck. As people prepare for the festivities, it is crucial to remain vigilant about the quality of the treats they purchase. With Diwali approaching, excitement is palpable as people across the country prepare for one of the most cherished festivals. This surge in anticipation has led to heightened demand for all kinds of products in markets, placing significant pressure on retailers and producers to meet consumer needs. But few products can match the demand for sweets in this period and as shop owners, sweet makers and other retailers strive to stock their shelves, the challenge of balancing quality with cost-effectiveness becomes increasingly difficult. In order to cater to this overwhelming demand while also maximising profits, numerous vendors have turned to adulterating ingredients with hazardous chemicals and substances and providing substandard products. This practice not only undermines the quality of traditional Diwali treats but also poses serious health risks to consumers. Consumers should be particularly vigilant about the quality of certain products while shopping for Diwali treats, as these items can often be heavily adulterated. Ingredients commonly used in sweets, such as milk, sugar, and various nuts, are at higher risk for contamination. Adulteration not only compromises the taste and authenticity of these festive treats but also poses serious health risks. Milk products like ghee, mawa, and khoya are often adulterated to enhance texture and increase quantity. Common adulterants include water, urea, caustic soda and even detergents, which are sometimes added to milk. Mawa, a key ingredient in many Indian sweets like barfi and gulab jamun, is particularly susceptible to adulteration with substances like starch, blotting paper, and even chalk. While it is nutritious, the presence of fake mawa in the market poses significant health risks. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regularly seizes large quantities of adulterated mawa, and reports indicate that this year, the problem persists. Such adulteration can lead to serious health issues, including stomach disorders, allergic reactions, psychological issues and potential effects on the nervous system. During Diwali, honey is often used during Puja, and is even added to sweets and other Diwali treats. However, pure honey is extremely tough to secure and is often priced at high values. Due to this situation, most of the honey that is available in markets today is adulterated to increase its quantity and shelf life. The substances used for purpose include molasses sugar, cheap syrups and water. Consuming honey that has been adulterated can cause severe health issues including increased blood sugar, high blood pressure, chronic diseases and in extreme cases blood related disorders and organ failures. A 2020 study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that 77 pc of honey samples tested were adulterated with sugar syrup. The study tested 13 brands of honey, including Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari, and Apis Himalaya.

Farm Fires: North India's Choking Crisis | Can Government Curb The Blaze?

The issue of farm fires continues to plague North India, with stubble burning proving difficult to halt. Experts Dr. Rajbir Singh and Anumita Roy Choudhury discuss the complexities of the issue, the government's efforts to curb the fires, and the impact on air quality. Despite a reduction in the number of fires and increased access to machinery, the problem persists. The discussion also highlights the need for a better understanding of ground realities and the implementation of solutions.

Delhi burns 7,400 MT of waste daily, but GRAP has no clear norms for WTE plants

New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) seems to have overlooked the city's waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, which so far have no separate, clear guidelines for any category under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The city has four functional WTE plants at Okhla, Narela, Tehkhand and Ghazipur. Of these, the one at Okhla is near residential areas. While GRAP measures give directions for power plants, industries, hot mix plants and brick kilns in Delhi and NCR, specific curbs or measures for WTE plants are missing. Currently, Delhi generates approximately 11,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) daily, of which about 7,400 metric tonnes go to WTE plants. Okhla generates 23MW, Narela 13MW, Ghazipur 25MW, and Tehkhand generates 25MW of power a day by burning solid waste. This is already affecting thousands of residents of Sukhdev Vihar and Jasola, prompting them to approach Supreme Court to oppose the Okhla plant's expansion. No official reply came from CAQM and Delhi govt on the issue. Sources in CAQM pointed out action point number 16, as mentioned under GRAP stage-I. It says: "Stringently enforce all pollution control regulations in industries, brick kilns and hot mix plants etc." Sources asserted that the "etc" in the action point pretty much covers all similar sources, including WTE plants. When asked if any flying squad from CAQM or any monitoring team from Delhi govt had ever visited any WTE plant to ensure if the emission standards are being complied with, no reply came. Sources in IITM's Decision Support System said that they were "not sure if the WTE plants are even included in the emission inventory of the city." "If they are included, then PM2.5 being emitted by these plants is be adding to the "others" category of the DSS. If not, then DSS must be detecting the emission and adjusting its contribution to other titled emissions, like burning, transport, etc. In both cases, we won't know the exact pollution they are causing," said an official, requesting anonymity. Experts pointed out that more clarity on GRAP measures on specific sources was required. "GRAP rules need to bring more clarity on the action on polluting industries, including WTE plants. All polluting industries need to be within its ambit, and there must be clarity on what actions must be clearly defined on the obligation of the WTE plants," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment. Reports keep raising warnings on the plants. A report from CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) submitted to NGT in July pointed out that the incineration of the mixed garbage often has low calorific value and high moisture, which leads to toxic emissions like furans and dioxins impacting human health and environment. On Sept 18, Supreme Court asked CPCB to inspect the Okhla plant to assess if it has necessary pollution control measures in place. The order came after residents near the plant protested its proposed expansion. "It is unfortunate that WTEs are not included even under GRAP 2.... Sukhdev Vihar and Jasola are severely affected," says UK Bharadwaj, general secretary, RWA, Sukhdev Vihar.

State of Play: Unpacking the climate finance landscape

The success of the upcoming COP 29 in Baku will depend on countries agreeing on a new climate finance target (NCQG) for mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. According to UNFCCC, climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing—drawn from public, private, and alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change. The volume of climate finance needs to increase significantly, while also addressing quality concerns. This webinar—the first in a series of four—aims to build awareness around climate finance, its size, and nature in the run up to the deliberations at COP 29 in November, particularly as it is viewed by the Global South. The speakers will dive into the current state of climate finance and explore the existing barriers to scaling climate finance. This will set the context for subsequent webinars on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, governance, and different mechanisms for mobilizing climate finance. Agenda Welcome Setting the Context Runa Sarkar, Professor, IIM Calcutta Keynote Speaker Abhishek Acharya, Director, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Panel Discussion Dhruba Purakayastha, Director for Growth and Institutional Advancement, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) Dipak Dasgupta, Distinguished Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute Vijay Mahajan, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies Sehr Raheja, Program Officer, Centre for Science and Environment

Delhi’s AQI ‘very poor’ for third day in a row, no respite for next six days

Delhi, for the third consecutive day, recorded air quality in the ‘very poor’ category, making it the most polluted city in the country on Wednesday. It reported a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 364 – up from Tuesday’s AQI of 327. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) forecast the AQI to be in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories for the next six days. “Meteorological conditions are unfavourable for the effective dispersion of pollutants as calm winds prevail during (Tuesday) night,” it added. According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute data, Wednesday saw 57 cases of stubble burning in Punjab, 15 in Haryana, 68 in Uttar Pradesh and none in Delhi. Since September 15, 1,638 cases of stubble burning have been reported in Punjab and 680 in Haryana, which is the lowest when compared to the same period since 2020, IARI data showed. Meanwhile, 808 cases of stubble burning were reported in Uttar Pradesh and 11 in Delhi – the highest so far since 2020 during this period. According to the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi, 8% of the pollutants on Tuesday were the result of stubble burning. The data on Wednesday showed that the contribution of road dust and construction activities was around 3%. The transport sector remained the highest contributor at 13.5%. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment said, “Spike in pollution even with low stubble burning shows the increasing impact of local and regional sources of pollutants in Delhi-NCR. With this being the festival season, the major cause of pollution is vehicle emissions due to traffic congestion.”

Local emissions adding fuel to fire: Why city still chokes on toxic smoke

Gurgaon: The city has been experiencing a steady rise in air pollution levels over the past week, with the average 24-hour air quality index (AQI) increasing from ‘moderate' to ‘poor'. The index was recorded at 247 on Wednesday, while it was 223 on the previous day. It has been in the poor category for the fourth consecutive day. Experts attributed this increase to changes in wind direction, low wind speed and emissions from burning of garbage and firewood, and traffic congestion and dust. The share of pollutants PM2.5 and PM10 has also gone up, as evidenced by data from Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). According to the Decision Support System by IITM, the share of farm fire in pollution level was below 8% on Oct 22. The HSPCB data from all three air quality monitoring stations in the city revealed that PM2.5 and PM10 levels steadily increased in the past seven days. For instance, the average of PM2.5 was 185µg/m3 on Oct 17, and it touched 227µg/m3 on Oct 23. Relatively larger pollutants — PM10 — were recorded at 112µg/m3 and rose to 220µg/m3 during the same time period. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), surface winds with speed ranging from 4 kmph to 12 kmph are expected in the region for the next five days. The AQI is likely to deteriorate to "very poor" in the coming days as prevailing meteorological conditions and calm winds are unfavourable for effective dispersion of pollutants. "Burning of garbage, traffic congestion and broken roads are pushing the level of pollutants in the air. These get trapped in the atmosphere because of low temperature," said HSPCB regional officer (south) Vijay Chaudhary. Residents also pointed out that open burning of waste is another source despite the imposition of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for air pollution across NCR. "The garbage disposal system is not in place, so people tend to burn waste. Also, all major roads in the area are broken, which is leading to traffic congestion and road dust. These are major reasons that we are suffering," said Vishal Singh, a resident of Sector 85. Experts said smoke from burning waste and leaves releases pollutants that can embed themselves deep in lungs when inhaled. "Waste burning in the open releases PM2.5, PM10, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide. These make the air toxic," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A pollution department official said they are taking measures to ensure all GRAP norms are enforced. "We are closely monitoring hotspots for garbage burning and carrying out night patrols. According to GRAP rules, first-time offenders will be fined Rs 5,000, and violation for a second time will lead to a 20% hike in penalty. We are working to deal with open burning of garbage in the area, which is a big contributor to air pollution in the region. We are taking help from MCG in dealing with this problem," said a senior HSPCB official. Meanwhile, Delhi air quality deteriorated with many areas now facing severe pollution. The winds in the region were calmer and, therefore, did not efficiently dispersed pollutants. Besides, north-westerly winds also brought pollutants created by stubble burning in neighbouring states. There was an increase in local pollution sources too.The city's AQI on a scale of 0-500 was 367 at noon, which improved marginally to 364 by 4pm and to 361 by 8pm. While this indicated the air quality was in the ‘very poor' category, the air readings in Anand Vihar, Jahangir Puri, Dwarka, Vivek Vihar and Wazirpur fell to the ‘severe' category in the early afternoon, with Anand Vihar being the worst polluted, logging an AQI of 406 at noon and a fall to 433 by 8 pm.