Air quality warning issued for New Delhi
FIRECRACKERS LIKELY TO AGGRAVATE SITUATION, EXPERTS SAY
As Delhi’s residents celebrated Diwali, the air quality yesterday oscillated between “poor” and “very poor” categories with authorities warning of severe deterioration even if fewer firecrackers are set off during the festival compared to last year.
The overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 281, which falls in the “poor” category, according the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
The central government-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) recorded the overall air quality index at 319, which falls in the “very poor” category.
Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida recorded “poor” quality air, according to the CPCB. Eleven areas of Delhi recorded “very poor” air quality while 24 areas recorded “poor” air quality, according to the CPCB data.
Gloomy forecast
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 PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) level was recorded at 143 while the PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers) was recorded at 281 in Delhi, according to the CPCB data.
Safar had forecast worse quality air for yesterday evening and today.
“The highest levels of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected between 11am to 3am on Wednesday and Thursday. Air Quality will be bad on Thursday and start to improve from Friday even if partial toxic crackers as compared to 2017 is burnt,” the government-run agency warned.
According to the Safar, both stubble burning in states surrounding Delhi and firecrackers are causing deterioration of air quality in the national capital.
“The fire counts are seen to be very high, but it is a combination of stubble-burning and widespread bursting of firecrackers in that region and need not be confused with stubble-only fire,” Safar said in a report yesterday.
It also said the combination of several rapidly changing weather parameters was playing a key role in air pollution at this time. Delhi’s air quality is expected to deteriorate to “severe plus emergency” category after Diwali, Safar said.
“Even if 50 per cent of the total load of toxic firecrackers as compared to Diwali 2017 is added, the prevailing weather conditions will aggravate the high smoke level,” it said in a report.