Delhi air quality turns moderate as residue burning recorded

Delhi’s air quality slipped into the “moderate” category as crop-residue burning was reported across six states, according to data cited by NDTV. The data recorded 114 residue-burning events between September 15 and 30. Punjab accounted for the largest number, with 59 incidents during the period.

Uttar Pradesh recorded 32 events, while Madhya Pradesh recorded 17. Three incidents were detected in Haryana and two in Rajasthan, according to the figures. Delhi recorded one residue-burning event during the same period.

The supplied material does not state how the individual incidents affected the capital’s air quality or identify the agency that collected the data. The report linked the movement in Delhi’s air-quality classification with the period in which crop residue burning was detected. It did not provide a detailed breakdown of pollutant levels or explain how the classification was calculated.

No information was supplied on enforcement action, penalties or measures taken by the states in response to the reported burning. The material also does not say whether the number of incidents was higher or lower than in an earlier comparable period. The figures provide a state-by-state count of detected events, with Punjab recording more than half of the total.

The source did not include comments from state governments, environmental agencies or farmers’ representatives.