NEW DELHI: Delhi’s pollution level worsened Wednesday morning and air quality fell to the lower end of the “very poor” category, a government agency said.
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According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 268 at 10am on Wednesday, while on Tuesday it was 223.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.
The air quality monitor of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, SAFAR, stated that the proportion of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution was 15% on Wednesday.
“Air quality is forecast to remain in the marginally very poor category tomorrow and marginally very poor to higher by 23 October.
“SAFAR synergistic stubble burning counts around Haryana, Punjab and neighboring regions stand at 849 as of yesterday (Tuesday). The SAFAR model estimate of the proportion of stubble burning in PM2.5 is 15 percent for today, ”he said.
The city posted a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 223 on Tuesday. 244 on Monday and 254 on Sunday.
The agricultural fire count around Haryana, Punjab and the region near the other side of the international border was 1,017 on Monday, it said.
The Delhi government will deploy 2,500 environment officers across the city to raise awareness for its anti-pollution campaign, ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ to curb vehicular pollution.
Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai will visit the ITO area in the capital to raise awareness about the campaign.
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