New Delhi (NVI): The air quality in the national capital improved slightly today with a average AQI recorded at 331, but remained in the ‘very poor’ category, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (CPCB) confirmed.
This slight decrease in the air quality index (AQI) was observed as there was a dip in the concentration of both, PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants.
The AQI was recorded at 313 in Anand Vihar, 305 in RK Puram, 325 in Mundka and 309 in Patparganj, all four in ‘very poor’ category, as per CPCB data. “At around 7 am, the city recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 281, which falls in the ‘poor’ category,” it added.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), PM10 pollutants in Delhi will reduce to the figure of 263 today, which falls in the ‘poor’ category, while PM2.5 pollutants are expected to fall down to 144, which falls under the ‘very poor’ category.
In addition to this, Gurgaon recorded AQI as ‘very poor’ with PM2.5 level at 310, yesterday it was in the ‘moderate’ category. In Noida, PM2.5 level was at 353 which is slightly better than yesterday.
The 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 312 on Tuesday, 353 on Monday, 349 on Sunday, 345 on Saturday and 366 on Friday.
Moreover, to help combat air pollution, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to launch ‘Green Delhi’ mobile application on Thursday. Through this app, people will be able to lodge complaints against waste burning, industrial pollution, dust emissions and other polluting activities.
However, the air monitoring agencies also said that, the national capital air quality may start deteriorating again from today, as stubble burning continues in Punjab and Haryana, and the north-westerly winds blow towards Delhi.
“The increase in local surface wind speed is a positive sign for today and tomorrow, but the impact of stubble related intrusion due to favorable North-Westerly level wind direction is a negative sign,” SAFAR said.
-RJV
