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The 24-hour AQI recorded till 4 pm on Friday was 270 compared to 306 on Thursday, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data said.
Drones will monitor air quality in Delhi’s most polluted areas. The action plan also includes an anti-dust campaign and emergency measures such as artificial rain. (PTI photo)
After four days of remaining “very poor”, Delhi’s air quality improved on Friday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) read at 270 due to favorable wind speed, placing it in the “poor” category.
However, experts have warned that the relief may be short-lived, as pollution levels are expected to rise again in three days due to climate change.
The 24-hour AQI recorded till 4 pm on Friday was 270 compared to 306 on Thursday, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data said.
AQI levels in Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, and Wazirpur were recorded in the “very poor” category on Friday, as 32 monitoring stations recorded “poor” air quality.
In the neighboring areas of Greater Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad, the air quality was better in the “moderate” category.
An AQI between zero 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 “difficult”.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), Delhi’s AQI has improved to the “poor” category driven by sudden changes in wind direction and speed. The wind went from the northwest to the east and southeast.
Similar weather conditions are expected in the next one to two days, but pollution levels may rise again in three-four days due to bad weather where AQI may touch 400 on October 31, AQEWS said.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has currently placed Delhi at GRAP Stage 2 and may consider upgrading to GRAP Stage 3 or 4 to control the expected increase in pollution, it added.
During the winter months, Delhi experiences a significant increase in pollution driven by a combination of factors such as low wind speeds, falling temperatures, high humidity levels and the presence of pollution particles that act as condensation.
The dominant pollutants in Delhi on Friday were PM-10 and PM-2.5, according to official data.
PM-10 is particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less. These small solid or liquid particles suspended in the air can be drawn into the lungs.
Sources of PM-10 include dust, pollen, mold, vehicle emissions and industrial emissions, which can cause breathing problems because they can penetrate deeply into the lungs, which can lead to diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.
Long-term exposure can increase the risk of heart and lung diseases.
The PM-2.5 level was recorded at 108 microgram per cubic meter at 5 pm on Friday, according to CPCB data.
PM-2.5 refers to respirable fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers and below, which pose a serious health risk.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s transport sector was the biggest contributor to pollution, with transport emissions accounting for around 15.8 per cent of the city’s air pollution on Friday, according to the Center for Decision Support for Air Quality Management.
It also predicted that the transport sector will remain a major contributor to Delhi’s pollution for the next two days.
The Minister of Environment in Delhi, Gopal Rai, on Friday gave a demonstration, showing drone-based services to identify sources of pollution in tropical areas, and said that if this pilot is successful, the most polluted regions will be improved.
During a protest in Wazirpur, one of the city’s polluting areas, Rai also discussed a newly released 21-point plan designed to tackle various sources of pollution, including dust, vehicle emissions, and open burning.
Urging citizens to actively participate in efforts to reduce pollution, Rai said, “The Delhi government is working tirelessly day and night to fight pollution.” Earlier on Friday, Mayor Shelly Oberoi held a press conference highlighting the steps taken by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to combat pollution in the city.
According to the mayor, the public organization has established 372 teams to monitor pollution, while 1,295 officers work in shifts around the clock.
There are 57,000 sanitation workers assigned to sweep the streets by hand. In addition, 52 road sweeping machines, and 195 water sprinklers and jetting machines have been installed, said Oberoi.
Also, 30 anti-smoke guns have been installed in the areas identified by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), he said, adding that 20 anti-smoke guns have been installed in C&D landfills and power plants, while 15 have been installed. in high-rise buildings of MCD and 32 in different construction areas.
As Delhi’s air quality improved on Friday, the day temperature was recorded at 34 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, according to the weather department.
The weather department has predicted clear skies on Saturday and the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to drop to around 33 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
(This story was not edited by News18 staff and was published by an integrated news agency – PTI)
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