Slight improvement in air, but remains in ‘very poor’ category

AGENCIES SAY AIR MAY FURTHER IMPROVE AS LIGHT RAIN IS EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY

NEW DELHI: Pollution levels in Delhi came down to ‘very poor’ levels on Monday after hovering in the ‘severe’ zone for three days. Government agencies have forecasted that with light rain expected on Wednesday and Thursday, the air quality may further see improvement.

While the Air Quality Index (AQI) value of Delhi had been hovering between 401 and 423 since November 9, on Monday it came down to 399. On a scale of 0-500, while an AQI value between 401 and 500 is considered as a severe category of air pollution, a value between 301 and 400 is considered as very poor.

Even though technically the government’s pollution control and forecasting agencies have termed this as an ‘improvement’, health experts said conditions are still not good enough for outdoor activity. “Skip strenuous activities. People with known illness should take special care,” said TK Joshi, a health expert with the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) task force.

Scientists from Indian Insti- tute of Tropical Meteorology, which maintains Delhi’s early warning system for pollution and Safar, the Union government’s pollution forecasting wing, said the air quality is likely to improve further from Tuesday. Pollution levels would, however, continue to remain in the ‘very poor’ category the next two days at least.

“It is expected to improve further by Tuesday, but would remain in the very poor category till Wednesday,” a scientist said.

The India Meteorological Department has forecasted that Delhi could receive light rain on Wednesday late evening and Thursday morning because of a western disturbance.

NCR towns including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida were all still reeling under severe categories of air pollution. Gurugram, however, encountered ‘moderate’ air with the AQI level dropping to 191.