Summary:
New Delhi: The noxious haze returned to Delhi and its suburbs on Tuesday due to raging farm fires in neighbouring states and a fall in temperature and the wind speed. Most of the 37 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded air quality in the severe category. A pungent smog lingered over Delhi-NCR for around a week after Diwali as a result of emissions from firecrackers, stubble burning and unfavourable weather. A Supreme Court-mandated panel declared a public health emergency as air pollution neared the emergency levels on November 1 and the administration ordered closure of schools till November 5. Despite a ban on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, farmers continue to defy it amid lack of financial incentives..