Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida emerged as most polluted cities in the month of October, while Dharuhera in Haryana topped the chart, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) released on Tuesday.

The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category over the last few days. Also Read | Delhi chokes on smog: How China fought its pollution crisis in 2013 | Explained

Need for a long-term action plan

The report by CREA says that the sharp rise in pollution levels, despite stubble burning contributing less than 6 per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels in October, highlights the impact of year-round emission sources.

It also noted that there is a need for long-term mitigation plans beyond short seasonal measures like the Graded Response A

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