Thick haze engulfs Delhi, air quality remains severe

Athick haze engulfed the Indian capital yesterday as air quality remained in the “severe” category and authorities expressed concern that light rainfall in the city may worsen pollution levels.

The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 403, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board.

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”.

Seventeen areas in Delhi recorded ‘severe’ air quality and it was ‘very poor’ in 14 areas, according to the data.

The centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (Safar) said there is a prediction of a cloudy sky in the capital and that sometimes brings sporadic showers.

“However, such isolated showers often aggravate air pollution post event unless the spell is longer and widespread. It introduces a lot of moisture in the air and makes it heavy to hold more particulate matters,” a Safar report said.

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) on Monday warned that if the air quality in Delhi continues to deteriorate then it would impose a complete ban on the use of non-CNG private as well as commercial vehicles.

The air quality in Delhi has been “severe” for the past two days. The city recorded its highest pollution level of the year a day after Diwali with an AQI of 642.