CAPITAL GRAPPLES WITH 'VERY POOR' AQI DESPITE 15-POINT PLAN

Noida, and Gurugram are in the grip of ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Poor’ air quality, with Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging from 221 to 341, sounding the alarm for residents in the National Capital Region (NCR). Despite a 15-point winter action plan to curb the rising pollution, the battle against deteriorating air quality continues.

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While initiatives like ‘Red Light on, Gaadi off ’ are in motion as vehicular and biomass burning emissions contribute to rising PM2.5 levels, the haze is likely to linger, with ‘Very Poor’ air quality forecast for the region from October 29 to 31, 2023.

The overall air quality in the national capital on Sunday was recorded in the ‘Very Poor’ category, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)India. The AQI in Delhi was recorded at 309 on Sunday morning. As per the latest data from SAFAR-India, the air quality around Delhi University was recorded at 341 (Very Poor) in the morning hours while in IIT area it was recorded at 300.

Similarly, in Lodhi Road area it was recorded at 262 in the ‘Poor’ category. India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its bulletin on Delhi’s Air Quality forecasted predominant surface wind likely from variable directions in Delhi with wind speed 04-08 kmph, resulting in mainly clear sky and mist in the morning on October 29.