NEW DELHI: A thin layer of smog engulfed the national capital on Saturday as the Air Quality Index dropped to 226.
The highest AQI was recorded in the Akshardham and Anand Vihar areas at 334, categorized as ‘Very Poor,’ according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Check Delhi AQI here
Earlier, on Friday, the hourly Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 292 at 12 PM and further deteriorated to 295 by 4 PM, nearing the ‘very poor’ category.
The average AQI of 292 was the worst recorded in October, surpassing the previous day’s reading of 285. Out of the 36 monitoring stations, 15 reported ‘very poor’ air quality, although no area, including Anand Vihar, fell into the ‘severe’ category. An AQI between 201-300 is considered ‘poor’, while 301-400 is classified as ‘very poor’.
What’s causing high level of pollution in Delhi-NCR?
The main source of pollution was PM10 or the coarser particles. According to Central Pollution Control Board, the PM2.5 levels oscillated between 115.8 and 118.2 micrograms per cubic metre.
The national standard for PM2.5 is 60 units and World Health Organisation puts it at 15 for 24 hours. PM10 oscillated between 265.2 and 270 micrograms per cubic metre.
Various sectors contributed to Delhi’s pollution, with transportation being the largest contributor at 12.8%, followed by industries in Delhi and peripheral areas at 3%, waste burning at 1.2%, construction at 1.6%, and the residential sector at 3.3%.
Pollutants also entered Delhi from neighboring cities, with Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh contributing 11.4%, Bulandshahr 7.8%, Ghaziabad 6.6%, and Faridabad 4.8%.
Meanwhile, farm fires persisted, with 59 incidents recorded in Punjab, 26 in Haryana, 47 in UP, and three in Delhi. Since September 15, there have been 1,348 stubble burning incidents in Punjab, 627 in Haryana, 657 in UP, and 11 in Delhi.
What are the predictions for this week?
According to the air quality early warning system, AQI is likely to turn ‘very poor’ in Delhi by Sunday as weather conditions are not favourable to ventilate the additional pollutants coming from stubble or waste burning.
“The air quality is likely to be in the ‘poor’ category on Saturday. The air quality is likely to reach the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday and remain there on Monday,” it stated, adding that AQI is likely to oscillate between ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ for the next six days.
“Met conditions are highly unfavourable for the effective dispersion of pollutants. Additional emissions from sources such as stubble/waste burning are likely to deteriorate air quality significantly,” the air quality early warning system predicted.
The air quality early warning system predicts that the AQI in Delhi is likely to turn ‘very poor’ by Sunday due to unfavorable weather conditions that hinder the dispersion of additional pollutants from stubble or waste burning.
The air quality is expected to be in the ‘poor’ category on Saturday and reach the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday, remaining there on Monday. The AQI is likely to oscillate between ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ for the next six days.
80 anti-smog guns to be installed at 13 hotspots in Delhi
Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Friday held a review meeting on pollution levels of 13 pollution hotspots in the city.
The 13 places are Anand Vihar, Mundka, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla, Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Narela, Ashok Vihar and Dwarka.
Rai said coordination committees have been created for each hotspot. He also directed the installation of 80 antismog guns at the hotspots and said that dust was the major cause of pollution there.
“A total of 80 mobile anti smog guns will be deployed at different hotspots, where water sprinkling will be done, particularly to tackle dust. In many places, it was observed that the increase in pollution is due to higher levels of PM10, which primarily consists of dust particles,” Rai said.
Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified the 13 hotspots in Delhi in 2018 as the annual PM 2.5 concentration at these locations was higher than Delhi’s mean level.
The minister said that at Anand Vihar the influx of diesel buses, particularly BS-3 and BS-4, was a cause for concern. Traffic on Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg and dust accumulation on the roadside were other local sources as was congestion outside the railway station.
DJB to use anti-frothing chemical soon over the surface of Yamuna river
Delhi Jal Board (DJB) chief executive officer Shilpa Shinde visited Kalindi Kunj on Friday. The purpose of her visit was to assess the situation on the ground regarding the reasons behind the frothing in the river.
Officials have stated that the application of anti-frothing liquid on the water surface will commence in the near future. Currently, the authorities are diligently observing the situation to ensure the effectiveness of the implemented measures in addressing the issue.
DJB officials have asserted that the defoamer utilised in the previous year was safe and underwent extensive testing, proving its harmlessness to human health. An official who attended the meeting claimed that from the middle of the month, DJB will install portable anti-surfactant sprinklers downstream of Okhla barrage, both before and during the Chhath Puja festivities.