The air quality in India’s national capital, New Delhi, shifted from the ‘poor’ category to ‘very poor’ on Thursday, registering an air quality index (AQI) of 289 at 10 am, which further deteriorated to 315 by 3 pm. The day’s average AQI was 320, higher than the previous day’s 287. The minimum temperature remained at 9.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest of the season, with the weather department predicting a temperature drop starting from Friday.
The increased pollution levels were attributed to foggy conditions and low wind speed, impeding ventilation. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, the AQI is expected to remain ‘very poor’ on Friday, with a slight improvement anticipated on Saturday. The forecast suggests that air quality may remain ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ in the coming week.
PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the air increased on Thursday, with PM2.5 reaching 135.8 micrograms per cubic meter at 6 pm, compared to 110.8 the previous day. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System attributed 27% of PM2.5 to other sources, 15% to transport, and 5% to industries in and around Delhi.
The Indian Meteorological Department forecasted no rain in the national capital until December 11. While Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai mentioned that Graded Response Action Plan (Grap)-3 has been lifted, efforts are ongoing to strictly implement Grap-1 and Grap-2 to address air quality concerns. The government aims to manage pollution levels effectively, considering factors like weather conditions, vehicular emissions, and industrial activities.
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