NOIDA RECORDS POOREST AQI, GHAZIABAD JUST A NOTCH BELOW

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: A day after Diwali, Noida recorded an air quality index value of 397 on Monday, indicating highest levels of pollution among neighbouring cities of Greater Noida, Delhi, Ghaziabad and Gurugram. All five cities had their AQI values in the ‘very poor’ category with Ghaziabad just a point below Noida at 396, Greater Noida at 375, Gurugram at 372 and Delhi reporting an AQI value of 368.

As experts said that the air quality may worsen, the district administration has warned of swifter action against burning of garbage and the fireworks, which often continue a day after Diwali in Noida. “The volume of fireworks has been less, but the air quality is deteriorating and in the wake of this, we will have to take strict action against any individual who is found bursting crackers or burning garbage,” said city magistrate Shailendra Mishra.

Pollution levels in Ghaziabad, however, were less compared to Diwali in the past three years. The city recorded an AQI of 422 and 412 in 2018 and 2017.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said pollution will persist for another fourfive days as per forecast as the wind speed is likely to remain at six-seven kilometre per hour (kmph) and pollutants accumulated will take time to disperse.

“The winds at present are westerly and north-westerly but are blowing at a low speed of sixseven kmph. The pollutants will not disperse so easily and will remain trapped. So, it is likely that the bad air quality conditions will remain. There is also no likelihood of rain over the next fourfive days,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of regional weather forecasting centre, New Delhi.