Air quality in Delhi will fluctuate in the coming days: Environment minister Gopal Rai

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital will fluctuate in the coming days in the wake of the upcoming festive and winter season.

The air quality in Delhi on Wednesday improved after it was recorded in the 'moderate' category, with the AQI at 190, as per SAFAR-India. 

As per the data, the AQI stood above 300 in at least 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi on Tuesday.

However, several instances of firecracker burning were also reported from parts of Delhi on the occasion of Dussehra on Tuesday. 

The minister urged the neighbouring states to ban firecrackers during the course of Diwali.

In accordance with the practice of the last three years, Delhi had last month announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers within the capital.

As stubble burning continues in parts of Punjab and Haryana, air quality in the national capital has worsened in the past few days.

According to data as quoted by PTI, over 2,500 cases of stubble burning have been reported this year so far.

However, farm fire numbers are better than those of the previous two years. Rai has said that the number of such cases is low as of now but is expected to increase after October 30.