Air quality turns ‘severe’ again

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 12

The national capital's air quality turned "severe" this evening as the pollution level increased again due to unfavourable meteorological conditions such as low wind speed, authorities said.

Environment Minister Imran Hussain held a high-level meeting this evening to review the action plan and action taken by various stakeholder departments for implementing the Graded Response Action Plan  mandated by the Supreme Court for combating and mitigating air pollution in the city in view of the situation post-Diwali and crop residue burning in neighbouring states.

The overall air quality index in the city was recorded at 407 which falls in the severe category, according to data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) level was recorded at 265 spots while the PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) was recorded at 461 spots today in the city, according to a data provided by the CPCB.

Nineteen areas recorded "severe' air quality while 18 areas showed "very poor" air quality, as per the CPCB.

Authorities have attributed the dip in air quality to unfavourable weather conditions like low wind speed.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said it is likely to improve further by tomorrow but will remain in "very poor" category.

"The stubble related impact continue to remain nominal due to slow transport height winds," the SAFAR said.

The air quality severely deteriorated on the day after Diwali on Thursday and continued to remain in "severe" category before showing slight improvement on Saturday. Since then, it has been oscillating between "very poor" and "severe".

As the air quality has turned back to "severe", New Delhi Municipal Council  sprinkled water on trees in Mandir Marg, Gole Dakhana and Pandit Pant Marg areas to control pollution.