Air quality in Delhi stays ‘very poor’ as pollution levels rise

Pic/PTI

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Wednesday morning remained under the "very poor" category with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) II norms already in place.

The national capital on Wednesday recorded a minimum temperature of 21.8 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Relative humidity was 91 per cent at 8.30 am.

The IMD has forecast mist haze in the morning hours and mainly clear skies during the rest of the day. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 33 degrees Celsius.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'very poor' category, with a reading of 335 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the RK Puram area of southwest Delhi remains "very poor" at 380, as of 7:00 AM today. The AQI at Anand Vihar also remains "very poor" at 355.

Ashok Vihar recorded an AQI of 355, followed by Bawana at 376 under the "very poor" category. AQI in the Dwarka Sector 8 area remains at 353, 362 in ITO, and 394 in Nehru Nagar.

Similarly, the AQI in Chandni Chowk remains "very poor" at 332. Around Akshardham, the AQI was recorded at 360, which also falls under the "very poor" category.

A day after Diwali, Delhi recorded its air quality in the "very poor" category on Tuesday. As per CPCB, the overall AQI in the national capital stood at 351 as of 4:00 PM.

Bawana recorded an AQI of 424 and remains the only area with air quality that falls under the 'severe' category. AQI in Anand Vihar stood at 332, Ashok Vihar 373, Burari Crossing 388, IGI Airport (Terminal 3) 295, ITO 349, Lodhi Road 334, Mundka 380, Najafgarh 312, Narela 363, Patparganj 320 and Punjabi Bagh 399.

Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas' (CAQM) sub-committee on GRAP comprehensively reviewed the air quality scenario in the region as well as the meteorological conditions and air quality forecasts on Sunday and took a call to invoke the 12-point action plan as per Stage-II of the extant GRAP in the entire National Capital Region in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

(With inputs from Agencies)