Delhi’s air remained in the poor area on Sunday, deteriorating marginally from the previous day, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), as strong winds prevented pollution levels from worsening in the national capital. .
Data from the CPCB shows Delhi’s General Air Quality Index (AQI) on Sunday was 274, while it was 251 on Saturday, both in the ‘poor’ range.
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”.
Scientists from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that reasonably high wind speeds over the National Capital Region (NCR) have helped keep pollution levels under control.
Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s regional weather forecast center, said the average wind speed recorded over the capital on Sunday was around 10 km / h.
“On Saturday and Sunday, the wind speeds were at the highest extreme, so the air quality has remained in the poor area and has not deteriorated much,” Srivastava said.
However, he warned that starting Monday with the impact of a western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the wind over Delhi and its neighboring satellite cities will slow down, leading to increased pollution levels.
“Starting tomorrow (Monday), the wind speed is likely to decrease to around 6 km / h,” he added.
The Union government’s climate and air quality monitoring center, the Air Quality System and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), also said winds are forecast to subside from Monday.
Slow winds and poor ventilation are forecast for November 23-24. The AQI is likely to deteriorate to the mid end of very poor by tomorrow (Monday). It is likely to deteriorate further to the upper end of very poor by November 24, ”said the Safar newsletter.
Safar’s analysis also indicated that while stubble burning cases had been reduced in Punjab and Haryana, they had not stopped completely. On Sunday, 649 fires in Punjab and Haryana contributed 12% of the levels of PM2.5 (ultrafine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) in the air of Delhi.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai held a review meeting with the Department of Public Works (PWD) on Sunday, where he was informed that the department had installed 23 anti-smog guns at key intersections and sites. of construction throughout the city. PWD officials at the meeting also assured that more will be installed, if necessary.
Rai said PWD officials have also been instructed to spray water on trees, roads and construction sites to combat dust contamination.
“A total of 150 tanker trucks have been deployed to spray water,” Rai said.
He also said that PWD officials were instructed to increase this number to cover more locations.
“I have also instructed PWD officials to further increase the number of tanker trucks so that all key roads in the city can be covered. If necessary, we will install more anti-smog weapons also at key intersections in Delhi, ”he added.
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