Indian Capital Suffers Thick Smog Once Again Due to Agricultural Fires

A few months ago, photographers in India rushed to take a photo of the Himalayas Mountains that has not seen since World War II. Due to lockdowns, the smog was gone, which made it possible for residents to see the beauty of the mountain ranges.

However, with the lockdowns lifted and agricultural activities starting this month, the thick smog is back specifically hitting India's capital, which is considered to be one of the most polluted cities in the world. New Delhi's air quality levels have plunged to "very poor" on Friday, and a very thick smog is covering the whole city.

Agricultural Fires Create Thick Smog Over New Delhi

According to India's environmental monitoring agency, SAFAR, New Delhi's Air Quality Index has risen past 270 after due to agricultural fires coming from its neighboring states, Phys.org reported. Anything above 25 is considered unsafe, the World Health Organization said.

New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, has enjoyed a respite from air pollution over the last months due to the implemented lockdowns to address the spreading coronavirus pandemic.

But as the country resumes its activities, cars and industries are also back in operation and not to mention the colder weather, and lesser wind makes the air quality of the city once again in the unhealthy levels.

Moreover, October is also the month for Indian farmers in neighboring regions, such as Haryana and Punjab, to set fire to their post-harvest fields to clear them even though authorities already banned the practice.

Unfortunately, the smoke travels to India's capital which leads to pollution levels to surge in the city of over 20 million people threatening overall public health.

According to health experts, high air pollution levels over a prolonged period could affect the disease resistance capacity of a human's body, which makes them vulnerable to other diseases like COVID-19.

Due to the air pollution levels in New Delhi, the government has been receiving public pressure to address the root cause of air pollution in the city.

Authorities would then implement rules and system restricting private vehicles from using the road for two weeks, or the firefighters to sprinkle water from high rise buildings to settle the dust, or the snuffing out of garbage fires and ordered builders to cover construction sites to prevent dust from covering the area.

However, it did not stop air pollution in the city, especially during peak seasons of the year when air pollution levels in New Delhi soared over the measurable scale. At that time, the whole city is covered with a dark yellow haze for several days which forced the schools to close and flights to be diverted.

Crop Burning in India

Farmers in the northern states of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh commonly burn their fields to plant new ones because they think it is the only affordable option they have to clear their fields. According to them, renting a machine used in clearing could cost 10,000 rupees ($136) while it only costs 1,000 rupees ($13) to burn their fields and it is done within a day.

This practice has been banned already because of its contribution to the air pollution in New Delhi and other parts of northern India. But the lack of a cheap and easy alternative in preparing the fields pushed the farmers to resort to this illegal method.

But according to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, they are now developing a microbial liquid solution that softens the crop stubble to turn it into compost.

This will help farmers to no longer burn their fields to plant new crops, and in principle, preventing smog from accumulating in the country's capital.

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