No Respite For Delhi As Air Quality Remains In 'Severe' Category For The 11th Day In November
On Saturday, Delhi woke up to yet another day of toxic air quality as the overall AQI of the national capital was recorded at 404 in the morning, which is categorised as 'severe'.
It would be the 11th severe air quality day in November in Delhi if the average air quality index remains above the 400-mark till the end of the day.?
How bad was November's air quality
Delhi recorded just three severe air quality days in November last year, while it experienced 12 such days in 2021, the maximum in the month since the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) began monitoring.
There were nine severe air quality days in November 2020, 7 in 2019, 5 in 2018, 7 in 2017, 10 in 2016 and 6 in 2015.
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', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe-plus'.
When will air quality improve
A scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a brief relief due to a likely improvement in meteorological conditions under the influence of a western disturbance expected to affect northwest India starting Sunday.
According to the air quality early warning system developed by the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, pollution levels will likely oscillate in the 'very poor' to 'severe' categories in the next few days.
What is causing the increase in pollution
On Friday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who met with officials from the Environment Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to review the situation, said vehicular emissions and biomass burning are the primary reasons behind the current increase in air pollution.
"Some increase in the pollution of Delhi has been noted. We had a meeting regarding it. The incidents of stubble burning are very few now, and the level of pollution is still increasing. Scientists reported 2-3 factors for this. The first is that vehicle pollution's contribution is 36%. The second factor is biomass burning. We made some major decisions after seeing this. To control vehicle pollution, we issued the rules of GRAP 3. To control biomass burning, we have directed the related organisations to monitor this especially. Especially the MCD, Revenue, DDA, and NDMC, are being given this direction for the fires that are breaking out at various places in the parks," Gopal Rai said.
He further said the situation would remain the same for the next two days, which could improve after November 27.
"Biomass burning will increase as the winter increases. Third, we also discussed the future situation. For the next two days, it is expected that the situation will remain the same. It is possible after November 27 that there will be light rain, and the speed of the wind will increase," Rai added.
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