Air quality in NCR improves, buoyed by drizzle, winds

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD/GURUGRAM: While the air quality in most cities in the National Capital Region remained between the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ levels on Saturday, pollution dropped across the region, buoyed by winds and scattered rains. But, despite overnight winds of moderate speed, the air in Noida refused to budge from the “severe” category.

Experts said it will take several more hours of speedy winds for the region to be rid of trapped pollutants.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) of Noida on Saturday, on a scale of 0 to 500, was recorded at 432, a noticeable improvement from 499 – the worst in the country – a day earlier.

The AQI of Greater Noida was recorded at 438, against 496 a day earlier. Both are in the “severe” category.

Meanwhile, severe pollution conditions in Ghaziabad seem to have abated by a sliver, with the city recording an air quality index of 453 Saturday as against 496 the day before.

Ghaziabad has been reeling under grave pollution conditions for the past few days.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath took stock of rising pollution in the state, during a meeting with officials.

In Gurugram, air quality improved slightly during the day to ‘very poor’ category, with a reading of 364, as per the CPCB’S AQI bulletin at 4.30pm.

However, it deteriorated again in the evening despite a light drizzle in some parts.

Around 5pm, a thick haze engulfed the city, blocking out all light, as the AQI touched 435 (severe).

Air quality deteriorated even further, to 463, by 6pm and 500 by 7pm, as per the pollution control board’s data.