Bhopal, April 16 -- The Air Quality Index in Bhopal continued to inch dangerously close to 150 for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, amid reports of farmers once again setting fire to crop residues in violation of pollution regulations that seem to have taken a back seat with the arrival of summer.
The rise in airborne pollutants coincides with the peak stubble burning season in rural parts of the district, where enforcement efforts have repeatedly faltered, particularly during the warmer months when such practices tend to go unchecked.
Winter pollution is typically dominated by smog and particulate matter, trapped close to the ground by temperature inversions and stagnant air. In contrast, summer pollution stems largely from ground-...