Delhi Air Pollution: India's national capital air quality stays in 'poor' category as AQI reaches 249
Delhi Air Quality: As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, the overall air quality in Delhi continues to remain in the 'Poor' category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 249 on Friday morning.
Delhi University - 307 (Very Poor)
IIT area in New Delhi – 273 (poor)
Lodhi Road - 218 (poor)
Noida - 208 (Poor)
Gurugram - 252 (Poor)
Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department in a statement on Delhi's AQI forecasted predominant surface wind likely from Northwest/Northeast directions in Delhi with wind speed 04-16 kmph, resulting in mainly clear sky and mist in the morning on October 27, Friday.
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. However, farm fire numbers are better than those of the previous two years.
The second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in Delhi to reduce the effect of increased pollution.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of guidelines and measures implemented to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India, which includes Delhi and its surrounding areas.
As per a government release issued by the Ministry of Environment, under GRAP-2 restrictions in Delhi NCR, there will be a ban on the use of coal and wood-fired stoves, the frequency of CNG and electric buses will be increased, regular cleaning of roads and a sprinkling of water on them to be done, traffic police personnel to ensure there are no traffic jams so that pollution can be controlled.
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.
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 "severe "
Notably, the Delhi government has identified eight new pollution hotspots in the city, including Shadipur, ITO, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Sonia Vihar, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, and Moti Bagh. Action plans will be devised for these areas, and special teams will be deployed to monitor pollution sources. Currently, there are a total of 21 pollution hotspots in the national capital.
- With inputs from agencies
