No respite from pollution, air quality remains poor in National Capital

The air quality in the national capital worsened on the third consecutive day when the Air Quality Index was recorded at 258. An AQI of 258 is considered poor according to pollution watchdog Central Pollution Control Board, and can cause breathing difficulty upon prolonged exposure. PM 10 remained the prominent pollutant as wind blew from northwest direction where major stubble burning activity is taking place.

Neighbouring cities of Faridabad, Gurugram and Noida also recorded 'poor' air quality at AQI of 222, 286 and 234 respectively. Parts of Delhi like Mundka, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Jahangirpuri showed alarmingly high pollution level with AQI ranging between 260 to 292. According to the CPCB data, the value of AQI value in Delhi touched 245 on Saturday while Ghaziabad and Gurugram recorded AQI at 302 and 336 respectively, turning the air 'very poor' in quality. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and anything over 400 is taken as severe.

Delhi's tryst with deadly pollution around festive season started early this year with air quality turning poor in the beginning of October, as opposed to November when it is generally expected to touch 'poor' level. Unfavourable weather conditions and stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been major aggregators of rising pollution levels. Speed and direction of wind plays a major role in dropping the air quality.

"The air quality has deteriorated due to change in direction of wind, which is now flowing from areas in Haryana and Punjab where stubble burning is taking place. Earlier, no wind was blowing, making it difficult for local pollutants to get dispersed, a CPCB official said.

"This is the period of monsoon withdrawals and a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea is developing. Such large scale processes tends to calm the wind speed which is usual for this time. This tends to increase pollution level. The impact of local transport is insignificant so far," Project Director at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Gufran Beig, said.

PM 10: 310 ug/m3 
(Permissible limit-100 ug/m3)

PM 2.5: 220 ug/m3 
(Permissible limit- 60 ug/m3)