DELHI’S AIR QUALITY ‘VERY POOR’

NEW DELHI: Despite various warnings and plans, the air quality of Delhi remained “very poor” for the second consecutive day on Sunday even as authorities warned that it may further deteriorate in the next couple of days. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 301, which falls in the 'very poor' category, said the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

A Central Pollution Control Board official said a number of other factors too were responsible for the worsening air quality, including vehicular pollution and construction activities and meteorological factor like direction of wind which is now flowing from the stubble burning areas. The pollution levels in the capital shot up days after a set of emergency measures were put in place by the government to combat air pollution.

The Central Pollution Control Board had said that if the air quality dips to "very poor" category, parking fees will be hiked three to four times the current rates and the frequency of the metro and bus services will be increased. When the air quality falls in the severe category, additional measures would be implemented like increasing frequency of sprinkling of water on roads and identifying road stretches with high dust generation.

If the pollution levels reach “severe+”, a new category, authorities will stop the entry of trucks except those with essential goods and regulate the number of cars on the road. In such a situation, they will also stop construction activities and appoint a task force to take decision on any additional steps, including shutting of schools.

On Saturday, a haze engulfed the national capital and the worst air quality of this season was recorded at AQI 324. Anand Vihar, Mundaka, Narela, Dwarka Sector 8, Nehru Nagar and Rohini all showed ‘very poor' air quality and are inching towards severe pollution levels, it said. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

The Supreme Court appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) on Friday held a meeting with state governments and Delhi government officials to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital. An EPCA member on Friday said stock of the situation was taken and it was decided that special attention would be given to vulnerable hotspots where ‘poor' or ‘very poor' air quality is observed. The PM2.5 (presence of particles in air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) touched a new high at 167. The PM 2.5, also called “fine particulates”, can be a matter of more serious health concern than PM10.