As winter sets in, residents of North India are battling not just the chill but also toxic air. On Friday, Chandigarh and several parts of Haryana reported very poor air quality, while neighbouring Punjab fared slightly better. However, the persistent issue of stubble burning has once again fueled debates and blame games over the regions pollution crisis.    Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 327 in the morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) Sameer app. Though slightly better than Thursdays alarming 425, which marked the seasons first entry into the severe category, the air remained hazardous.    In Haryana, the AQI readings painted a grim picture. Gurugram registered 323, Bhiwani 346, and Kaithal 334, with other towns like Jind, Karnal, and Sonepat also grappling with similar very poor air quality. Comparatively, Punjab showed moderate improvement with Amritsar at 225, Ludhiana at 178, and Jalandhar at 241 — numbers still concerning but below the critical levels seen in Chandigarh and Haryana.    The AQI scale categorizes air quality as good (0-50), satisfactory (51-100), moderate (101-200), poor (201-300), very poor (301-400), severe (401-450), and severe plus (above 450). At severe levels, pollution poses serious health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.    The annual issue of stubble burning remains a primary culprit. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana resort to burning paddy crop residue to prepare their fields for the next sowing season due to time constraints. This practice, combined with industrial emissions and vehicle pollution, contributes significantly to the regions deteriorating air quality.    Defending Punjab against accusations, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently called for collaboration rather than blame. There should be no blame game over the pollution issue; instead, a cooperative approach among states is vital, he emphasized. This response followed criticism from neighboring Delhi and even as far as Pakistans Lahore, where air quality has similarly worsened.    Adding to the misery, dense fog engulfed several areas in Punjab and Haryana, reducing visibility to near-zero and exacerbating health and transportation challenges.    As the CPCB reported Delhis AQI at a staggering 409 on Friday morning, the nations capital also reeled under severe pollution. Experts warn that such levels can lead to respiratory distress, aggravate pre-existing health conditions, and cause long-term environmental damage.    While the respite in Punjabs air quality offered a glimmer of hope, the overall scenario underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts, stricter enforcement of pollution control measures, and sustainable farming practices to combat North Indias annual air quality crisis.

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