As the month of September draws to a close, several parts of Northern India, including Delhi-NCR, are bracing for the onset of colder temperatures and the looming spectre of air pollution and smog, typically associated with October.
The primary cause of this pollution and haze is the burning of paddy straw (parali) in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
While efforts have been made to curb stubble burning, it continues to be a persistent issue.
With the onset of cold weather, Delhi-NCR continues to experience a rise in hazardous air quality. The city's atmosphere becomes laden with pollutants, adversely affecting the health of its residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions.
Both the central and Delhi governments claim to have taken extensive measures to combat pollution, but each year, the smoggy veil returns, raising questions about the effectiveness of these measures.
Today, on Thursday, news agency ANI released a video confirming that farmers in various villages of Punjab have started burning leftover paddy straw in their fields.
In one such instance, a field in the village of Daduana in Amritsar was observed ablaze with stubble burning.
It is anticipated that the smoke and pollutants released from these burnings will soon drift towards Delhi-NCR, exacerbating the already fragile air quality.
This situation, coupled with the pollution generated by Diwali fireworks, is likely to contribute to deteriorating air conditions in the region.