Delhi recorded the 6th ‘very poor’ air day of the month on Monday although AQI improved to 304 from 356 a day earlier, according to Central Pollution Control Board’s bulletin released at 4pm. The air quality improved marginally to ‘poor’ by 6pm, with an AQI of 299, as winds picked up. However, it’s likely to remain ‘very poor’ over the next few days and may turn ‘severe’ on Diwali.
Wind direction on Monday was south-easterly, but the met department’s forecast shows it is likely to change to north-westerly on Diwali. North-westerly winds are favourable for transport of smoke from stubble burning sites to Delhi.
Experts said winds turn calm during the night time, causing accumulation of pollutants, while light winds prevail during the daytime. However, on Monday, wind speed increased, leading to dispersion of pollutants.
“Winds play an important role in dispersion of pollutants in the absence of any significant weather activity like rain, which washes them out. The average wind speed during the daytime on Monday was 15-18 kmph,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice chairman, Skymet Meteorology.
The air quality is likely to stay ‘very poor’ till Wednesday and may turn ‘severe’ on Diwali if there are added emissions from firecrackers and stubble burning. “The outlook for the subsequent six days from Thursday is that the air quality is likely to be in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category,” said the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences.
CAQM, which reviewed the air quality in NCR Friday, directed Delhi govt and NCR states to ensure strict implementation of the SC order on firecrackers and their respective regulations. It directed agencies to work in coordination to ensure AQI levels don’t compel the necessity to invoke further stages of GRAP.
“NCR states and Delhi govt were directed to augment the capacity and intensify the use of mechanised road sweeping and sprinkling of water, identify more highrises for installation of anti-smog guns, and deploy nodal officers to address air pollution from hotspots. The strict implementation of SC orders and orders on firecrackers was highlighted, in view that festivals this year coincide with the peak paddy harvesting season in northern India,” CAQM said Monday.
Meanwhile, the maximum temperature stood at 34.4 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal while the minimum settled at 20.4 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal.