<p>The share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution is predicted to increase to 38 per cent by November 6 – two days after Diwali, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast agency SAFAR.</p>.<p>The contribution of farm fires in Delhi's air pollution has remained low this season so far due to the record-breaking rainfall in October and favourable wind direction.</p>.<p>However, it is likely to increase up to 38 per cent by November 6 as the wind direction is expected to change to northwesterly after Diwali, said Gufran Beig, the founder project director of SAFAR.</p>.<p>Northwesterly winds carry smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana towards the national capital.</p>.<p>Last year, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution had peaked to 42 per cent on November 5.</p>.<p>In 2019, crop residue burning accounted for 44 per cent of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on November 1.</p>.<p>The air quality in the national capital entered the “very poor” category for the first time this season on Tuesday owing to unfavourable conditions for dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.</p>.<p>Stubble burning accounted for six per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on Tuesday. The rest of the pollution is due to local sources, Beig said.</p>.<p>According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the capital recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 303. It was 281 on Monday, 289 on Sunday and 268 on Saturday.</p>.<p>The neighbouring cities of Faridabad (306), Ghaziabad (334) and Noida (303) also recorded very poor air quality.</p>.<p>An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".</p>
<p>The share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution is predicted to increase to 38 per cent by November 6 – two days after Diwali, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast agency SAFAR.</p>.<p>The contribution of farm fires in Delhi's air pollution has remained low this season so far due to the record-breaking rainfall in October and favourable wind direction.</p>.<p>However, it is likely to increase up to 38 per cent by November 6 as the wind direction is expected to change to northwesterly after Diwali, said Gufran Beig, the founder project director of SAFAR.</p>.<p>Northwesterly winds carry smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana towards the national capital.</p>.<p>Last year, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution had peaked to 42 per cent on November 5.</p>.<p>In 2019, crop residue burning accounted for 44 per cent of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on November 1.</p>.<p>The air quality in the national capital entered the “very poor” category for the first time this season on Tuesday owing to unfavourable conditions for dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.</p>.<p>Stubble burning accounted for six per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on Tuesday. The rest of the pollution is due to local sources, Beig said.</p>.<p>According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the capital recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 303. It was 281 on Monday, 289 on Sunday and 268 on Saturday.</p>.<p>The neighbouring cities of Faridabad (306), Ghaziabad (334) and Noida (303) also recorded very poor air quality.</p>.<p>An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".</p>