AQI remains in ‘very poor’ category for 3 days in a row
NEW DELHI: Air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Wednesday.
The air quality index (AQI) value improved by a few digits but it is expected to deteriorate over the next two days due to low wind speed and high moisture content. The AQI value of Delhi was recorded at 316 at 4 pm, which was slightly lower than Tuesday’s 352. The AQI in NCR towns, including Noida and Ghaziabad, also remained in the ‘very poor’ category. Faring better, Gurugram was in the ‘poor’ category.
Government agencies say chances of respite are remote at least over the next two days as air quality would remain in the ‘very poor’ zone. Weather forecasting agencies said the night temperature could drop to nine degrees Celsius over the weekend.
“Though air quality improved marginally on Wednesday, meteorological conditions are not favourable at the moment. Winds have slowed down and southeasterly winds are bringing in moisture, which is trapping local pollutants,” said, a scientist from Safar, the union government’s air quality forecasting agency.
Most air quality monitoring stations, including hotspots such as Anand Vihar, Bawana, Burari, Dwarka and Mundka, remained on the higher side of the ‘very poor’ category.
The concentration of PM2.5 improved slightly on Wednesday. The PM 2.5 value was recorded at 169 micrograms per cubic metres against Tuesday’s 213. The safe standard for PM 2.5 is 60micrograms per cubic metres.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) officials said the concentration of PM 2.5 may shoot up again over the next two days, as weather conditions are not favourable for the dispersal of pollutants. PM 2.5 is mainly generated from vehicular emissions and burning. At present, the major source of air pollution in the capital is local emission. There is no significant contribution from crop residue burning, said CPCB officials.
The minimum temperature on Wednesday was 13.5 degrees Celsius, which is four notches above normal. The day temperature was 28.1 degrees Celsius.
A senior official of the IMD’S regional weather forecasting centre said, “The temperature is above normal due to a western disturbance. But it is likely to drop to around nine degrees Celsius over the weekend, as cold northwesterly winds will start blowing again.”
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