Why Noida and Ghaziabad are blaming Pakistan for polluted air?
Air Quality Index (AQI) for Noida plummeted to 304, down from 169 the previous day. Greater Noida reported an AQI of 312, while Ghaziabad recorded an even higher AQI of 324.
Pollution Linked to Stubble Burning Across the Border
In a TOI report, D.K. Gupta, a regional officer of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board in Greater Noida, attributed the worsening air quality to stubble burning in Pakistan. He noted, «This is the first time this year that all three cities of Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad saw ‘very poor’ air quality on the same day. And our neighbouring country – Pakistan – needs to be blamed for this. Increasing instances of stubble burning have been sending toxic smoke across the border.»
Local Wind Conditions and Visibility Issues
Despite meteorological predictions indicating that winds were not favorable for transporting smoke from stubble-burning sites to Delhi, local wind speeds fell to zero, causing the accumulation of pollutants. A haze blanketed the capital, with visibility dropping to 1,000 meters at Palam and 1,500 meters at Safdarjung early Sunday. At some monitoring stations, the AQI dipped into the ‘severe’ category.
According to a bulletin from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), air quality is projected to remain in the ‘very poor’ category from October 28 to October 30, with the potential to worsen further to reach a ‘severe’ category on October 30 and 31 due to Diwali festivities. The IITM reported, «Meteorological conditions are unfavourable for the effective
