Delhi air pollution: Environment Minister Gopal Rai advises residents to be alert and cautious after slight improvement in AQI

Delhi air pollution: As the light rain brings slight relief to Delhi's air quality, signaling a dip in temperatures, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday advised citizens to remain cautious although the air quality had improved after the rain. 

Making an appeal to people of Delhi, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, "A few days back, Delhi's AQI had reached the 'Severe' category. Yesterday, the city received light rain because of which there has been an improvement in pollution. The fluctuation will carry on. I request the people in Delhi and NCR to be alert."

#WATCH | Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai says, "Few days back, Delhi's AQI had reached the 'Severe' category. Yesterday, the city received light rain because of which there has been an improvement in pollution...The fluctuation will carry on...I request the people in Delhi… pic.twitter.com/f3BYNJ8U3S — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

Emphasising on stubble burning, Gopal Rai said that though the stubble burning Punjab had stopped but the activities in NCR region was currently having a big impact on pollution.

"Stubble burning has stopped in Punjab but due to vehicle pollution especially as the wedding season is going on, vehicle movement has increased multiple times during the night. The activities in the NCR region are also making a big impact. I request people that although there is improvement people should still be alert. The monitoring of GRAP III is going on strictly, he added.

Delhi witnessed a slight improve in the air quality index following light rainfall in several parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region a day ago. 

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality of Delhi shifted to 'very poor' from the 'severe' category, with an AQI of 354, which is marginally down from 400 at 9 am on Monday.

Notably, rain lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR on Monday, bringing respite to citizens suffering from high levels of air pollution over the last two weeks.

 Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature, and colour.

Check AQI scale 

0 and 50 are considered "good”, 

51 and 100 are "satisfactory", 

101 and 200 are "moderate", 

201 and 300 are "poor", 

301 and 400 are "very poor", 

401 and 450 are "severe"  

450 considered as "very severe " 

- With inputs from agencies

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