Delhi air quality plummets to ‘poor’ category again, AQI at 256
The air quality deteriorated from the ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 256 on Thursday morning in the national capital, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
#WATCH | Delhi: To mitigate pollution, water was sprinkled through an anti-smog gun in Anand Vihar area as the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stands at 256, in the ‘Poor’ category as per SAFAR-India. pic.twitter.com/qGAbb6NPG2
— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2023
SAFAR’s latest data showed an AQI of 316 (very poor) around Delhi University in the morning hours. Noida recorded an AQI of 269 (poor), while Gurugram saw an AQI of 176 (moderate), as per ANI reports.
Also Read:Delhi Pollution: Delhi sees improved air quality, AQI jumps to ‘moderate’ category
In response to the pollution, an anti-smog gun was used to sprinkle water in the Anand Vihar area.Meanwhile, to reduce pollution in the national capital, an anti-pollution drive is also going to start today.
#WATCH | Overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Noida stands at 256, in the ‘Poor’ category as per SAFAR-India. (Visuals from India Gate and area around Kartavya Path) pic.twitter.com/N5l3THnrta
— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2023
A resident of the city, Bhagwati Prasad, while speaking to ANI, said, “The pollution situation is very bad. There has been coughing and burning in the throat for the last few days. There seems to be no solution, as it happens every year.”
Also Read:Smog shrouds Delhi as air quality dips to ‘very poor’ category, AQI at 306
Earlier, on Wednesday, the overall air quality in Delhi was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 190, as per SAFAR-India. The AQI varied in various regions of the city. It was recorded at 273 in the Delhi University area, 128 in Pusa, 173 at IIT Delhi, 211 in the Airport vicinity, 152 on Mathura Road, and 149 on Lodhi Road. Neighbouring regions also witnessed an improvement yesterday, with Noida recording an AQI of 218 and Gurugram registering an AQI of 169.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged the states in the National Capital Area to ban firecrackers ahead of the upcoming festival – Diwali, keeping in view the measures put in place in the city to tackle pollution.
Also Read:Ban stubble burning, firecrackers: Delhi environment minister’s recommendations for NCR to tackle pollution
The minister said that during Dussehra, which was celebrated on Tuesday, there was less bursting of firecrackers and if the same continues for Diwali, then it will have a better impact on pollution levels in Delhi.
“I think that comparatively, firecrackers were burst at a lesser number of locations this time (during Dussehra). I would like to once again request that the administrations in Delhi-NCR ban firecrackers because they are easily available to people in their states. I think if NCR states ban it too, this will have a better impact on Delhi,” Gopal Rai said.
On the improvement, the Environment Minister said, “Two days ago, the AQI level in Delhi was above 300. A decrease in the AQI level has been recorded and it has come below 300. I think that in the days to come, this will keep fluctuating. It is being estimated that after October 30, this will perhaps go up again.”
Further speaking on stubble burning, Gopal Rai said, “Stubble burning is going on but the number of such cases is low as of now. But it is being estimated that these cases will increase around October 30. It is to be seen what kind of impact the measures taken up in Punjab have.”
As stubble burning continues in parts of Punjab and Haryana, air quality in the national capital has worsened in the past few days. According to data, over 2,500 cases of stubble burning have been reported this year so far.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in Delhi on Tuesday to reduce the effect of increased pollution.
The Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms that are easy to understand. There are six AQI categories, namely Good + Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
(With ANI Inputs)
