The national capital’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category on Saturday, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 262, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). The AQI in Delhi was in the poor category on Friday.
PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels were 109 in the’very poor’ category and 228 in the’moderate’ category, respectively. An AQI of zero to fifty is considered good, 51 to one hundred satisfactory, 101 to two hundred moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.
The air quality in Noida is rated as’very poor,’ with an AQI of 306, while it is rated as’moderate,’ with an AQI of 156. By Saturday, the air quality in Delhi-NCR is expected to deteriorate to “very poor.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) predicted that the Delhi-NCR Air Quality Index (AQI) would be 300 or higher on October 22. The CAQM stated in a tweet that air quality will deteriorate to “Very Poor” and that further actions under Stage I will be intensified.
“All actions as envisaged under Stage II of the GRAP – ‘Very POOR’ Air Quality to be implemented in the right earnest, and further actions under Stage I to be intensified by all agencies concerned,” said CAQM in a tweet. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has banned the manufacture, storage, sale, and bursting of fireworks this year, as well as fines and jail terms in the event of a violation.
The Delhi Government also announced the ‘Red Light On Gaadi Off’ campaign in an effort to reduce vehicular pollution. Public representatives and officials will use the campaign to encourage commuters to turn off their vehicles at red lights in order to reduce vehicular pollution.
In the winter, stubble burning in surrounding Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan degrades air quality in the national capital.
