New Delhi: A layer of smog shrouded the national capital on Wednesday morning, with residents in Delhi and its suburbs braving dangerous air quality. The fall in the temperature and wind speed had pushed the city's air quality in the "severe" zone on Tuesday. The government's air quality monitor, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said pollution levels in Delhi-NCR are expected to enter the "severe plus" or "emergency" category on Wednesday.

According to Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the India Meteorological Department's regional weather forecasting centre, a dip in wind speed and temperature makes the air cold and denser, leading to accumulation of pollutants.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Reading on Wednesday-

• Anand Vihar: Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 472 (severe)
• Vasundhara, Ghaziabad: Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 490 (severe)
• Noida: Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 564 (severe plus)
• Okhla: Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 509 (severe plus)
• Mandir Marg: Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 465 (severe)

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.

Watch | Delhi-NCR's air quality turns hazardous, smog chokes the capital



Experts said the spike in pollution levels can be attributed to a significant decline in wind speed. Incidents of stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab have increased and northwesterly winds have been bringing more farm fire plumes to the Delhi-NCR region, they said.

According to SAFAR, the share of stubble-burning accounted for 25 per cent of Delhi's pollution on Tuesday, up from 18 per cent on Monday. For around a week after Diwali, a pungent smog lingered over Delhi-NCR as a result of emissions from firecrackers, stubble burning and unfavourable weather.

Last week, the apex court had pulled up the Centre and state governments for their inability to curb stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana and bring air pollution in Delhi under control. It had asked the governments if they feel ashamed that people are no longer safe even in their houses.

The top court had also ordered that all farmers be given a Rs 100 per quintal incentive to prevent them from setting their fields on fire in preparation for the next crop, and provide them free machines to get rid of the agriculture residue.

The period between October 15 and November 15 is considered critical as a maximum number of stubble-burning incidents take place in this span in Punjab and adjoining states, which is one of the main reasons for the alarming spike in pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Despite a ban on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, farmers continue to defy it amid lack of financial incentives.

State governments are providing 50 to 80 per cent subsidy to farmers and cooperative societies to buy modern farm equipment for in-situ management of paddy straw, but farmers say use of machines increases the input cost manifold.

According to an affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh distributed around 63,000 machines to farmers during 2018-19. In 2019-20, as many as 46,000 machines have been distributed.

(with inputs from PTI)