'90% Dip In Punjab, Haryana Farm Fires': Centre Says Delhi's Air Saw Improvement This Year

Last Updated:December 01, 2025, 17:24 IST

Delhi's air quality improved in 2025 as Punjab and Haryana saw a 90% drop in fire incidences during paddy harvest season, the Centre replied to a starred question in Lok Sabha.

The Centre said the number of good days (AQI<200) in Delhi have increased to 200 days in 2025 from 110 days in 2016.

The Centre on Monday said Delhi’s air witnessed an improvement this year as Punjab and Haryana registered a drop of 90% in fire incidences during paddy harvest season this year.

“The States of Punjab and Haryana have collectively recorded about 90% reduction in fire incidences during paddy harvesting season in the year 2025 in comparison to the same period in the year 2022," the Centre said in reply to a starred question by Charanjit Singh Channi on the impact of stubble burning.

According to the statement, the air pollution in Delhi-NCR is a collective result of multiple factors including high level of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR, arising from various sectors viz Vehicular Pollution, Industrial Pollution, Dust

from Construction & Demolition Project activities, Road and Open Areas Dust, Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste burning, Fires in Landfills, air pollution from dispersed sources, etc. as well as various meteorological factors.

The Centre said: “With coordinated efforts, number of good days (AQI<200) in Delhi have increased to 200 days

in 2025 from 110 days in 2016. While there is an overall improvement in the AQI this year, very poor days (AQI: 301-400) and severe (AQI more than 401) days have reduced from 71 days in 2024 to 50 days in 2025. Delhi has observed lowest average AQI in the past 8 years i.e., from 2018 to 2025 (barring 2020 – COVID lockdown)."

The Centre pointed out that they have been regularly reviewing and monitoring the actions taken to address air pollution including stubble burning related issues in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.

This comes as Balakrishna Pisupati, who heads the UN Environment Programme’s India office, warned that the country’s air pollution is “almost reaching the level of a disaster."

Speaking to UN News, he said that despite major programmes and investments, progress often feels like “running on a treadmill", hampered by policy gaps, weak enforcement and slow behavioural change.

He stressed the urgent need for coordinated action on fossil-fuel reduction and forest protection as UNEP works with India to push cleaner-air solutions.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated on Monday, slipping back toward the ‘very poor’ zone just a day after strong winds briefly pushed pollution levels down.

At 7 am, the city logged an AQI of 298, firmly in the ‘poor’ category, as a haze of fog and smoke settled over the capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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