Delhi's air quality remains poor, authorities warn of further deterioration

Kashmir Times. Dated: 10/22/2018 3:08:36 PM

NEW DELHI, Oct 21 (Agencies): Despite several corrective measures taken by the authorities, the air quality in Delhi remained "very poor" for the second consecutive day on Sunday.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which recently implemented an emergency plan to curb air pollution, warned that the air quality may further deteriorate in the next couple of days.
The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 301, which falls in the 'very poor' category, said the data from the CPCB.
On Saturday, a haze engulfed the national capital and the worst air quality of this season was recorded at AQI 324.
Anand Vihar, Mundaka, Narela, Dwarka Sector 8, Nehru Nagar and Rohini all showed 'very poor' air quality and are inching towards severe pollution levels, it said. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) held a meeting with state governments and Delhi government officials to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital on Friday.
An EPCA member later informed that it was decided that special attention would be given to vulnerable hotspots where 'poor' or 'very poor' air quality is observed.
The PM2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) touched a new high at 167.
The PM 2.5, also called "fine particulates", can be a matter of more serious health concern than PM10.
The PM10 level (presence of particles in the air with a diameter f less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 293, according to the data from the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
The CPCB said that a number of factors including vehicular pollution, construction activities and meteorological factors like the direction of wind which is now flowing from the stubble burning areas, were responsible for the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.
Meanwhile, images obtained through NASA satellite imagery has shown several spot fires already burning in Haryana and Punjab.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also warned that the city would soon become a "gas chamber" as the Centre, Punjab and Haryana governments did "absolutely nothing" for farmers involved in stubble burning.

 

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