After short reprieve, AQI 'very poor' again

Delhi's respite from deteriorating air quality was short-lived, as the Capital clocked an air quality index of 303, classified as “very poor” on Saturday—a day after it clocked a 150-point improvement in 24-hour average AQIon Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB's) daily bulletin.

- Aheli Das

The AQI on Friday was 218, classified as “poor” by the CPCB.

Experts attributed the dip to a change in the wind direction, which led to a higher contribution of stubble burning as well.

According to the CPCB, an AQI of 51-100 is classified as “satisfactory”, 101-200 is “moderate”, 201-300 is “poor”, 301-400 is “very poor”, and a reading above 400 is “severe”.

Data from the Centre's Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management in Delhi showed that the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's air pollution had increased from 1.6% on Friday to 9.03% on Saturday. The contribution of stubble burning, however, is expected to go down to 3.45% by Sunday, according to forecasts by DSS.