By Neha Arora and Mayank Bhardwaj

NEW DELHI (Reuters] – India’s capital New Delhi experienced a rare drop of pollution. Last month saw residents breathe the cleaner air for the first time in over four years. But authorities have warned that November will see sharply reduced air quality.

The monsoon was delayed, there were intermittent rains, and the wind speed picked up sharply. This resulted in the average concentration of PM2.5, which is a dangerous, tiny airborne particle, in every cubic meter of air. October, when the air quality usually takes a downward turn.

According to the data collected by the Central Pollution Control Board, this was a sharp decrease from the October 2020 average concentration of 126, which is 25 times higher than the World Health Organization safe limit.

A combination of many factors including fall in temperatures and winter wind speeds, as well as farmers starting to toss rice crops to prepare the fields for the next crop of wheat, could make the air unsafe.

Anumita Raychowdhury (executive director, Centre for Science and Environment) stated, “Because it was frequent rains most farmers weren’t able to burn crop stubble. Now they have an even smaller window to dispose off crop waste.”

Roychowdhury explained that “as the rains diminish, more farmers will burn rice stubble. That will occur when more severe weather patterns will permit pollutants to hang in air.

The poor quality of air over Delhi is a sign that India has a lot to do to reduce pollution. This was reflected in the United Nations COP26 summit, which took place in Scotland. It also served as a reminder to the world leaders who are meeting at this United Nations summit to decide on ways to combat global warming.

The Diwali festival lights is on Thursday, and Indians will light firecrackers in keeping with an old Hindu tradition.

Although Delhi banned firecracker sales, authorities are rarely able to enforce these restrictions.

According to a top government official, “The October air was healthy but we are really concerned about November.” This is despite the fact that it had been contaminated by air pollutants. “Stubble burning could reach its peak just after Diwali.”

About 25% of October and November’s air pollution is caused by crop waste burning