Delhi air quality continued to oscillate between 'poor' and ‘very poor’ on Saturday, 17 November. The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 309, which comes under 'very poor' category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR).
There had been some respite from pollution on Wednesday and Thursday after rain washed away the pollutants but the rainfall also led to an increase in air capacity to hold pollutants.
Delhi recorded its worst air quality of the year the morning after Diwali (8 November) as the pollution level entered “severe-plus emergency” category at 642 AQI due to rampant bursting of toxic firecrackers, authorities said on Thursday, 8 November.
A total of 50 lakh crackers were burst on Diwali this year, spreading 1,50,000 kg of mass of PM 2.5 into the air.
- Delhi recorded the worst air quality of the year post Diwali
- Many areas of Delhi recorded ‘Hazardous’ category in the AQI, with some areas in East and Central Delhi recording as high as 999
- A total of 50 lakh crackers were burst in Delhi, that spread 1,50,000 kg PM2.5 mass into the air.
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Delhi's Air Quality to Remain Bad for the Next Few Days
Delhi's air quality on Wednesday, 21 November touched 373 in the 'very poor' category, same as the day before.
Over the past few days, the air quality in the national capital has remained bad as the wind speed in the region fell.
SAFAR forecast showed that the air quality will remain in the upper range of 'very poor' for the next two or three days.
SAFAR said that the impact of stubble burning has gone down considerably. On Wednesday, its contribution to PM 2.5 was 3 percent, compared to 4 percent on Tuesday and 5 percent on Monday.
Pollution Continues to Oscillate Between 'Poor' and 'Very Poor'
Delhi's air quality continued to oscillate between 'poor' and 'very poor' categories on Saturday, 17 November due to increased pollutant holding capacity of air after rainfall and stubble burning in neighbouring states.
The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said that air pollution was on a path to reversal, and that it had increased after the impact of rain got over. The AQI was entering the 'very poor' range again.
The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 309, which comes under 'very poor' category, according to the SAFAR.
On Saturday, the PM 2.5 particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres level was recorded at 122, while the PM 10 level was recorded at 228, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
Delhi's air quality showed significant improvement on Wednesday and Thursday after rain washed away the pollutants but the rainfall also led to an increase in air capacity to hold pollutants, SAFAR said.
(Source: PTI)
Complete Ban on Non-CNG Vehicles, Odd-Even Only Options: EPCA
The Supreme Court directed for vehicle sticker scheme which would identify vehicles by fuel type/age. But this scheme hasn't been implemented by government, said Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) in letter to Central Pollution Control Board & Graded Response Action Plan Task Force.
Only option is to look at either complete ban on all private vehicles other than CNG & or restriction of plying by number plate (odd-even). Note that odd-even scheme, as practised in other cities for similar pollution abatement is done for extended hours & includes all private vehicles, said EPCA.
(Source: ANI)
Smoggy Morning in Delhi, Light Showers Recorded: MeT
Delhiites woke up to a smoggy morning on Tuesday with light rainfall in parts of the city, MeT department said.
The minimum temperature in Delhi-NCR settled at 14 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature is expected to reach 30 degrees Celsius.
The MeT Department has predicted a cloudy sky with light rains across the city through the day.
Light rainfall was recorded in central and eastern parts of the national capital even as smog engulfed it, a MeT department official said. The relative humidity was recorded at 86 percent, he said.
On Monday, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 30.2 and 14.2 degrees Celsius respectively.
(Source: PTI)