Air quality remains ‘very poor’, Delhi gasping

New Delhi, October 24

Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category on Saturday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 347.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said, “Some locations entered severe zone, but that will be short-lived as winds are expected to increase slightly.”Some areas like Mundka, Wazirpur and Alipur recorded “severe” levels of air pollution, authorities said.

‘AQI could improve by tomorrow’

AQI on Saturday 347

The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said, “Some locations entered severe zone, but that will be short-lived.” It said the air quality could improve on October 26.

It said the air quality could improve on October 26.

“The overall Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the very poor category with few Delhi locations entering at higher zone, but that will be short-lived. This is mainly because the extremely calm local surface winds which were prevailing yesterday are likely to increase slightly and may further pick up by Oct 26,” SAFAR said. It also said the AQI is predicted to continue to remain in the “very poor” category, but without further deterioration. “Slow improvement in the current condition is expected by October 26, leading to a middle range of very poor,” it said.

SAFAR synergised stubble fire counts stood at 1,292 on Friday and its share in Delhi’s pollution was nine per cent. “The boundary layer wind direction is westerly and wind speed is low. Hence, pollutant transport towards the Delhi region will remain low. The SAFAR model estimate of stubble burning share in PM 2.5 is 9 per cent for today,” it said.

The Delhi Government has kick-started its “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” anti-pollution campaign for which it has deployed 2,500 environment marshals at 100 traffic signals. — PTI