Delhi's Air Quality Improves To 'Moderate', The Cleanest Since Mid-October
The national capital New Delhi recorded moderate air quality on Wednesday morning, with an AQI of 174.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the 24-hour average air quality of Delhi at 8 am stood at 174, in the 'moderate' category.
Third moderate AQI day this week
This is the third time this week, the average air quality of Delhi has been in the 'moderate' category.
The air quality in Delhi improved from "poor" to "moderate" for the first time this week on Monday.
The 24-hour AQI on Monday was 180, compared to the 282 (poor) on Sunday.
Delhi's air quality was 147 at 9 am on Tuesday, in the 'moderate' category, according to data from the CPCB.
Cleanest air in Delhi since October
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', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
According to IMD data, this is the cleanest Delhi's air has been since mid-October.
India Meteorological Department has forecast mainly clear skies with strong surface winds with speeds up to 20-30 kmph during the day on Wednesday.
Delhi's air quality to improve further
The weather agency has also said that the pollution levels will continue to drop over the next two days due to strong surface winds. As per IMD's Early Warning System (EWS), the air quality will remain in the moderate category for the next three days.?
How Delhi's air quality improved
New Delhi and adjoining areas were struggling with falling air quality until late January when the AQI had fallen below the 400-mark, which is in the 'severe' category.
Despite this the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had decided not to implement curbs under Stage III of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control air pollution, citing the forecast of an improvement in air quality.
The air quality in Delhi began improving on January 31, after the national capital received widespread rains, on the last day of the month.
More rains in the days that followed and an increase in windspeed helped to clear Delhi's skies and also to improve the air quality.
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