Delhi: Winter is here, and air quality continues to remain 'very poor' in the city

As winter comes knocking at Delhi's door, the air quality continues to remain in the 'very poor' category, with a mild smog covering the entire national capital region.

Abhishek Anand  | Edited by Shreya Biswas
New Delhi, November 1, 2017 | UPDATED 12:55 IST
Delhi

Winter is almost here in Delhi. Today's early morning weather report even saw the minimum temperature plunge below 18 degree Celsius. The city's air quality continues to remain in the 'very poor' category though, with a mild smog covering the entire national capital region.

Reports say the maximum temperature of Delhi is likely to remain above 30 degree Celsius, while the minimum temperature may dip to around 17-18 degree Celsius across the week.

"This was the minimum temperature recorded so far since last winter. The minimum temperature will go down further during next couple of weeks. The maximum temperature will, however, remain around 30 degree Celsius, and the days will be warm," said a weather department official.

Meanwhile, the air quality of the NCR remains a major concern.

According to the Ministry of Science's website, System for Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 level was recorded 179  µgm-3, which falls in the 'very poor' category. Also, PM 10 was recorded at 298 µgm-3, which falls in the 'poor category'.

"With no rains or heavy wind in site, the air quality is likely to remain stagnant this month," said a weather department official.

In mid-October, Delhi saw a further rise in pollution levels, with Bhiwadi (NCR) in Rajasthan becoming the first place to record "severe" quality of air under the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Across the NCR, where the air quality has already touched "very poor" level in many areas -- including IGI Airport, Delhi University (North Campus) and Mathura Road -- recorded an AQI of 290, which is merely 10 points away from overall "very poor" air quality.

Ghaziabad, on the other hand, was on the verge of reaching "severe" with air quality at present registering "very poor" at an Index value of 385. Noida, where air quality was slightly better 48 hours earlier, also saw increase in pollution, with AQI recorded at 263, considered "poor".

Post Diwali this year, despite Supreme Court's ban on the selling of fire crackers and guidelines regarding bursting them beyond a certain time limit, the air quality index (AQI) in the NCR rose significantly.

The Delhi government is planning to re-impose the odd-even rule to counter the rising pollution and the departments concerned have been asked by the ministers to pull up their socks for implementation of odd-even rule.

[With added inputs from IANS]