The air quality in Delhi remains in the ‘bad’ category, with an AQI of 293 points

On Friday, the air quality in the nation’s capital remained in the ‘bad’ category (December 10, 2021). The city’s total Air Quality Index (AQI) was 293.

Delhi | Air Quality Index (AQI) is presently at 293 (overall) in the 'poor' category, as per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)-India

— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2021

At 7.40 a.m., the levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the air were rated as ‘poor’ and’moderate,’ respectively, by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

However, the air quality in the NCR region of Noida and Gurugram has deteriorated once more. Noida’s air quality has deteriorated to the’very poor’ category, while Gurugram’s air quality has deteriorated to the ‘poor’ category, with an AQI of 249.

An AQI of zero to 50 is regarded ‘good,’ 51 to 100 is considered’satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 is considered’moderate,’ 201 to 300 is considered ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 is considered’very poor,’ and 401 to 500 is considered’severe.’

SAFAR, the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality forecasting office, warned earlier on Thursday that wind is predicted to be moderate over the next three days, increasing mixing and ventilation of pollutants.

“During the day, when the sky is mainly clear, the peak mixing layer height is estimated to be around 1.5 km, resulting in moderate vertical mixing of released pollutants. For the next three days, air quality is expected to gradually improve but remain in the ‘lower end of poor’ or’moderate’ category “It was stated.

Meanwhile, despite the availability of gas infrastructure and supplies, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjacent Zones (CAQM) has ordered the immediate shutdown of factories not running on PNG or cleaner fuels in industrial areas.

The Commission had asked States to prepare an action plan that clearly specified exact deadlines for transitioning all designated industry units to PNG, where infrastructure and gas supply are already in place.