Curated By: Sanstuti Nath
Last Updated: October 24, 2023, 09:30 IST
The Delhi government is preparing to re-launch a campaign to curb vehicular pollution on October 26 (Image: PTI/File)
However, according to SAFAR, the air quality of the city is likely to deteriorate further under “very poor” category with PM 2.5 reaching 313 and the PM 10 concentration at 191 “under moderate” category
After two consecutive “very poor” air days, Delhi’s pollution levels significantly improved to reach the “poor” category on Tuesday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital reaching 221, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
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 “severe”.
According to the latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), areas in the national capital region also recorded an improvement in the air quality, with the observatory in Faridabad’s sector 11 recording an AQI of 216, in Gurugram’s Teri Gram 219, in Ghaziabad’s Loni 306, and Noida’s Sector 62 at 228.
AQI May Go Back To ‘Very Poor’
According to SAFAR, the air quality of the city is likely to deteriorate further under “very poor” category with PM 2.5 reaching 313 and the PM 10 concentration at 191 “under moderate” category on Tuesday.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials also said that the air quality in Delhi-NCR may remain “very poor” for the next few days due to a drop in temperature and the influx of emissions from stubble burning.
The wind speed is slow, and there has been scant rainfall in October, unlike the last two years, an official said.
The bursting of crackers during this festival season may also contribute to the rising pollution levels in national capital region.
Delhi Govt’s Meet
Meanwhile, with deteriorating AQI, the Delhi government is preparing to re-launch a campaign to curb vehicular pollution on October 26, a year after Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena put it on hold, questioning its effectiveness.
Sources in the city government’s environment department said the LG’s permission will not be required for the “Red Light On Gaadi Off” campaign this year as the participants will not receive any honorarium, unlike in previous seasons.
On Monday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the campaign will kick off on October 26. However, he mentioned that the odd-even car-rationing scheme, which allows cars to ply on alternate days based on odd or even number plates, is not currently under consideration.
The “Red Light on Gaadi Off” campaign, first launched on October 16, 2020, aims to reduce vehicular pollution in the national capital by encouraging drivers to switch off their vehicles while waiting for traffic lights to turn green.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has also decided to use suppressant powder to mitigate dust pollution. Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to the “very poor” category on Sunday for the first time since May, primarily due to a drop in the temperature and wind speed, which allowed pollutants to accumulate
(With PTI Inputs)
