(Image source from: REUTERS)

The Supreme Court stated that the emergency measures implemented under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas can be withdrawn, as a downward trend has been observed in the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. The court was hearing a case related to measures to control air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. Delhi's air quality has improved, with the AQI settling in the 'moderate' category at 161, after the city had been facing persistent air pollution for over a month. On Wednesday, a senior official from the Union environment ministry informed parliamentarians that stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the main causes of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, and several steps are being taken to encourage farmers to utilize the paddy residue for animal feed and industrial purposes. Additionally, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the central government regarding the "persistent air pollution crisis" in the national capital.

According to a recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), thermal power plants in the region are responsible for producing 16 times more air pollution than the pollution caused by stubble burning, as reported in a media article. Additionally, the environmental organization stated that weather conditions in Delhi, such as calm winds and dropping temperatures, which lead to a phenomenon called cold air traps, have worsened the pollution crisis by trapping dust, smoke, and other harmful particles in the air, hindering their dispersal.