On Saturday, the air quality index in the city dipped to a four-year low a day after Dussehra due to unfavourable meteorological conditions as well as heightened levels of particulate matter pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday dipped to 326, or the ‘Very Poor’ category.
A reading greater than 400 on the 5-level, colour-coded index, maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), indicates ‘severe’ levels of pollution and meriting emergency measures as per the Graded Response Action Plan prepared by the Environment Pollution (prevention and control) Authority.
While road dust and pollution from transport are key sources of pollution in the city, Dussehra sees an additional load of pollution from the burning of effigies. The AQI for Delhi on the days preceding Dussehra this year was 276, 297 and 313 on October 19, 18 and 17 respectively.
Further dip
A forecast by the India Meteorology Department (IMD) states that the AQI in most parts of the city is expected to be in the red, or the ‘very poor’ category, over the next three days. CRRI Mathura Road is expected to see the AQI dip to ‘severe’ levels on Sunday, the forecast warns.
The AQI on Saturday was also the lowest recorded for October, this year.
Officials from the Central Pollution Control Board did not respond to comments from The Hindu.
An IMD spokesperson said that a rain-bearing western disturbance near Jammu and Kashmir had raised humidity levels over Delhi as well as depressed wind speeds compared to Friday. “This significantly contributes to the haze observed over the city. We expect wind speed to pick up from tomorrow once the western disturbance passes,” said M. Mohapatra, a senior meteorologist at the IMD.
Several studies over the years have shown that unfavourable wind and increased humidity accentuates the effect from local sources of pollution in Delhi.
On Friday, President Ram Nath Kovind said air and noise pollution ought to be kept under control. He was speaking during the traditional Dussehra celebrations at the Luv Kush Ramlila in the Red Fort on Friday evening. Other participants were Union Environment Minister and Chandni Chowk MP Harsh Vardhan; Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who set ablaze the towering effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna with a flaming arrow.
The burning of paddy stalk from neighbouring Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is also known to whet pollution levels mid-October to mid November and authorities in Delhi have announced several measures to dampen its impact. This year, fires in Punjab are reportedly 75% lower than the same time last year, and in Haryana 40% lower than last year. It is still unclear if this will lead to a substantial improvement in the air quality over Delhi NCR.