NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (Reuters) – India’s capital, New Delhi, was engulfed in thick smog early on Monday as cooler climate exacerbated air pollution, despite the fact that authorities information confirmed that crop residue burning in neighbouring states had dropped considerably.

Residents of New Delhi and its suburbs endure poor air each winter as colder, heavier air traps development mud, automobile emissions and smoke from the burning of crop stubble within the close by states of Punjab and Haryana.

However, paddy crop residue burning has diminished by 31% within the interval from Sept. 15 until Nov. 30 this 12 months, the federal government mentioned in a press release on Monday.

The whole variety of farm fires in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi’s suburbs fell to 53,792, owing to improved equipment and bio-decomposers to destroy crop residue, in keeping with authorities information.

“Significant reduction in paddy crop residue burning events in the current year is reflective of vigorous and consistent efforts made by Central Government and State Governments and other stakeholders,” the federal government mentioned.

Environmentalists have typically mentioned that tackling farm fires alone is not going to clear Delhi’s filthy air, which remained within the ‘very poor’ class on Monday.

The central authorities banned all non-public development within the metropolis and surrounding areas and enforced restrictions on diesel autos plying within the metropolis. Authorities additionally sprayed water in some neighbourhoods to attempt to clear the air.

The authorities mentioned that common day by day air high quality index has improved to 320.6 factors in November, from 376.50 in November, 2021.

Reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Robert Birsel and Toby Chopra

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