Air quality further deteriorates in Delhi, Government reimposes ban on construction activities

New Delhi : The Air quality in the national capital deteriorated further and remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Friday morning. The Air Quality Index(AQI) slipped to 380, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

The pollution apparently worsened today as the AQI on Thursday was recorded at 362.

“The AQI today indicates ‘Very Poor’ category. Local surface winds are relatively low for the next three days that reduces dispersion of pollutants leading to deterioration of air quality but within the ‘upper end of very poor’ category for the next three days,” said the agency.

“On 29th local surface winds are likely to increase resulting in improvement of air quality but remain within ‘Very Poor’ category. Local emissions and weather (Mixing layer height and wind speed) are likely to be the dominant factors controlling air quality,” it said.

According to the SAFAR bulletin, the effective farm fire count is 219 and its contribution to Delhi’s PM2.5 on Thursday is six percent.

The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 stood at 224 in the ‘very poor’ and 376 in the ‘poor’ category respectively around 10 am, as per the agency.

Several areas in the national capital including ITO, Lodhi Road, and Mandir Marg recorded air quality in ‘very poor’ category with an AQI of 421, 357, and 408 respectively while the AQI at Anand Vihar and Jahangirpuri were in the ‘severe” category with an AQI 445and 469 respectively.

According to data of Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) the Air Quality Index in the neighbouring parts of Delhi, also were recorded in the ‘very poor to severe’ category. Faridabad was recorded at 469, Ghaziabad was at 332, Gurugram at 365 and Noida at 421.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 is satisfactory, 101 and 200 is moderate, 201 and 300 is poor, 301 and 400 is very poor, while between 401 and 500 is severe.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has once again decided to reimpose a ban on construction and demolition activities following Supreme Court’s directions.

In view of an improvement in the air quality, the ban on construction and demolition activities was lifted on November 22.

Delhi government on Wednesday said that schools, colleges and educational institutions in the national capital will reopen from Monday, November 29 onwards.

Only CNG and electric trucks carrying non essential items will be allowed in Delhi from November 27 onwards.

The ban on entry of diesel and petrol trucks carrying non essential items will continue till December 3.

Meanwhile, all private and government schools in Gurgaon reopened on Friday after being shut for nearly 15 days due to a sudden spike in air pollution levels in the National Capital Region.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) the sky will remain clear with the minimum and maximum temperature likely to hover around 11 and 28 degree Celsius respectively

“The relative humidity at 0830hrs in the morning stood at 95 percent,” the IMD said.

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