Advertisement
New Delhi: Toxic smog continued to prevail in the country’s capital Delhi for the eighth consecutive day. However, there are signs of slight improvement in AQI (recorded at 396) on Tuesday as compared to Monday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality across Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category even on Tuesday.
Despite slight improvement, the AQI was registered in the ‘severe’ category at several air monitoring stations in the city. The real-time monitoring station at Anand Vihar recorded a ‘severe’ AQI at 438, while Okhla Phase 2 (422), Rohini (444), Punjabi Bagh (437), RK Puram 437, Dwarka Sector I 407, ITO 364, New Moti Bagh (410) among others.
A layer of thick smog continued to engulf Delhi on Tuesday. Yesterday, the overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 437, in the ‘severe’ category.
According to the AQI scale, the air quality checks between 0 and 50 are considered “good”, 51 and 100 are “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 are “moderate”, 201 and 300 are “poor”, 301 and 400 are “very poor”, and 401 and 450 are “severe” and “severe” when AQI exceeds 450.
Delhi’s air quality saw a slight improvement on Monday, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 31.5 degrees Celsius, which is one degree above the season’s average. The minimum temperature was recorded at 13.5 degrees, which is one degree less than the season’s average. The weather office has predicted mainly clear sky on Tuesday and the maximum temperature is expected to be 31 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be 14 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity levels of 35 to 98 percent were recorded in the city on Monday.
Apart from Delhi, other cities in north India too faced rise in pollution with AQI in Japiur at 247, Lucknow 242, Patna 289, Mumbai 178, and Pune 166.
CM Kejriwal key developments in Delhi pollution
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday holds a high-level meeting over ongoing pollution crisis in the city. The meeting was attended by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai and senior officials from concerned departments.
The odd-even car rationing scheme will be implemented in Delhi from November 13 to November 20 in a bid to tackle air quality.
Primary schools in Delhi will remain shut till November 10. For students in grades 6-12, schools have been granted the option of shifting their classes online.
Earlier, schools in the national capital were ordered to be closed till November 4. Primary schools (nursery to Class 5) have been directed to remain shut in Gurugram till further order to protect children from rising pollution in NCR.
Similarly, in Faridabad, schools will remain shut till October 12 for children from Class 1 to 5 starting Tuesday.
With GRAP IV restrictions invoked in Delhi-NCR, the entry of trucks carrying non-essential items into the capital from Noida is banned and curbs have been placed on plying of BS-III (petrol) and BS-IV (diesel) vehicles in Gautam Buddh Nagar to prevent further deterioration.
