NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality index receded to the poor range on Sunday, aided by consistent winds and less moisture, after a Saturday with a sever AQI score.
The air quality index (AQI) was 348 at 11am, fell to 323 by 3pm and was 308 by 6pm. By 9pm, it was 297.
The average AQI of the city was 412 on Saturday.
Sunday’s reading, though poor, is the best Delhi has managed to get on the AQI scale in November.
On Sunday, the city saw relatively clear skies and better wind conditions compared with the previous fortnight. Delhi got winds reaching up to 15 kmph. “The city received westerly winds, which are dry. The speed hovered between 10-15 kmph, starting late Saturday night, thus cleaning up the air quality. The wind speed is likely to be good for the next 2-3 days, with no possibility of fog, which means that the air quality may improve further,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of climate change and meteorology at Skymet.
The city, however, continues to be under GRAP-IV restrictions. A call on the same may be taken today. On Saturday, stubble burning contributed 19.58% to the city’s net pollution and transport contributed 16%. On Sunday, local transport caused 18.15% of the city’s pollution, while Jhajjar contributed 8.7%. Delhi’s residential emissions were 4.5%, and peripheral industries contributed 3.6%.
According to the air quality early warning system by IITM, Monday may see predominant surface wind less than 8 kmph during morning hours, along with smog or shallow to moderate fog. The wind speed will increase thereafter, becoming close to 12 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon. It will decrease thereafter, becoming less than 8 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night, along with smog or shallow fog towards evening or night. The IITM expects the AQI to remain very poor.
“The air quality is likely to be in the very poor category from Nov 25-27. The outlook for the subsequent 6 days: The air quality is likely to be in the very poor to severe category,” IITM’s air quality early warning system said. The PM2.5 levels in the city on Monday till 7pm oscillated between 185.1 and 134 micrograms per cubic metre, against a 24-hour national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, and 15 units permissible by WHO standards. The PM10 levels hovered between 320.6 to 250.9 micrograms per cubic metre, against a national standard of 100 units and 45 units as per WHO standards.
Meanwhile, Gurgaon administration on Sunday decided to extend suspension of all physical classes for students up to Class XII in both govt and private schools till Nov 25. The decision follows a directive from the director of Secondary Education, empowering deputy commissioners to make calls based on prevailing AQI in their districts.