Despite these reductions, stubble burning remains a major environmental issue, as farmers often resort to it due to limited time and inadequate machinery to manage crop residue. As the window for sowing Rabi crops like wheat is narrow, burning paddy stubble becomes a quicker option for many small-scale farmers.

Punjab recorded the highest number of stubble-burning cases on Monday. This comes as Delhi has been witnessing alarming air pollution levels for the past two days. On Sunday, the AQI level breached 450 in the national capital.

Thermal power plants emit sulfur dioxide (SO₂) year-round at levels 240 times greater than stubble burning, a seasonal contributor to air pollution responsible for 17.8 kilotonnes of SO₂ emissions annually, according to a paper published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The BJP-led central government is only indulging in politics, and has taken no step to check stubble burning,” said Atishi.

New Delhi woke up to a grim reality on Monday as the Air Quality Index soared to a season-high 481, plunging the city into an unbreathable state.

Atishi criticizes BJP for politics over pollution, praises AAP-ruled Punjab for reducing stubble burning, warns of medical emergency.

Delhi CM Atishi has strongly criticized the central government for its lack of action on stubble burning, which is contributing to the severe air pollution crisis across North India. According to Atishi,