Though the meeting was called in the backdrop of rising levels of pollutants -- PM2.5 and PM10 -- especially during Diwali this year, it will look into the entire issue of air pollution keeping in view its triggers including open burning of solid waste in and around Delhi.

"The meeting on Friday will deliberate on the strategy to minimize occurrences of open burning of stubble in agriculture fields", said an official of the environment ministry.

The ministry of Monday reviewed the situation, based on the data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and observed that vehicular emissions in Delhi, dust by the roadside and around construction sites in the Capital and stubble burning of crop residue in neighbouring states were "major contributors" to the air pollution.

"The problem has been accentuated due to relatively low wind speeds and lower temperatures, resulting in reduced dispersion of pollutants in Delhi", said the official while stressing the need to discuss the CPCB report on Diwali pollution that reveals that not just PM2.5 but PM10 pollution as well rose dangerously.

The CPCB Diwali monitoring report noted that the data of PM10 was found to have increased in all places in Delhi.

"The real-time automatic ambient air quality stations operated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) shows increase in pollutants level at all locations", said the CPCB report while sharing monitoring data on pre-Diwali and Diwali of all locations across the capital.

It noted that the level of pollutants had "increased significantly in all places irrespective of parameters attributed to unfavourable meteorological conditions" during the entire period, a clear indication of how Delhi and all the NCR states have collectively failed to control the menace in the past over 10 months despite having a clear action plan and roadmap to handle the situation.

Pointing at inadequate actions on the ground, the officials in the environment ministry on Monday asked the CPCB to issue necessary directions to Delhi as well as governments of other NCR states.

Accordingly, municipal local bodies in and around Delhi have been directed to forthwith take all possible measures to check open burning of solid waste by strictly enforcing relevant rules. Prevention of fugitive emissions from construction activities will also be taken on priority.

"All public road owning agencies in Delhi will have to ensure that the roadsides are watered periodically to arrest re-suspension of dust in ambient air. Similarly, Delhi Police will have to ensure that the movement of traffic at busy intersections in the Capital is streamlined to minimize pollution due to vehicular emissions", said the official.

Referring to the alarming level of air pollution, environmentalists and green thinktanks have called for urgent action. The Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said, "Diwali pollution has continued to add to the pollution woes. Sustaining the pollution control efforts for further reduction in pollution levels is turning out to be an enormous challenge. This requires longer term strategy to address this problem".

It said, "This year Diwali pollution is not only worse but also more toxic as maximum levels of several gases and particles have gone up from last year".