Delhi Pollution Emergency: Air Quality in Delhi is still Very Poor

According to the Ministry of Earth Science’s air quality monitor, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, air pollution levels in Delhi remained in the’very poor’ category on Sunday morning, despite the impact of stubble burning on the city’s air quality having decreased significantly due to a reduction in farm fires in neighbouring states (SAFAR).

According to SAFAR, the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 347 at 6 a.m. today, with particulate matter (PM) concentrations with diameters of 10 and 2.5 microns at 301 (‘bad’ category) and 181 (‘very poor’ category) correspondingly.

Air quality in parts of Delhi-NCR

PM2.5 particles, which are known to cause lung damage, remained the most prevalent pollutant in various sections of the capital. According to the Centre-run pollution monitoring system, farm fires have a small impact on the city’s PM2.5 level. PM2.5 particle concentrations were 357 at Delhi University (North Campus), 347 at Pusa, 346 at Mathura Road, 342 at Lodhi Road, 346 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3), 346 at IIT Delhi, and 337 at Ayanagar.

Noida, in Uttar Pradesh, is also suffering from polluted air, with PM10 and PM2.5 particle counts of 455 (‘severe’ category) and 360 (‘extremely bad’ category) respectively. The air quality in Haryana’s Gurugram was comparatively better, with PM2.5 particle concentrations of 336 (‘extremely poor’ category) and PM10 at 187 (‘moderate’ category).

Pollutants are flushed out by strong winds

Due to strong winds, the air quality in the nation’s capital is likely to improve. According to SAFAR, high surface winds are expected from November 21 to November 23, resulting in effective pollutant dispersion. “Transport level winds from the northwest are predicted to be strong between November 21 and November 23, washing out locally produced pollutants from Delhi to the southeast region, improving air quality in Delhi to the lower end of the’very poor’ or ‘poor’ category,” SAFAR said.