Delhi's Air Quality Falls To 'Poor' For The First Time In Three Months, Could Worsen In The Coming Days

Ahead of the onset of the winters the air quality in the national capital and adjoining area have begun dipping.

On Thursday, for the first time in more than three months, the air quality of Delhi was above 200, which is categorized as 'poor'.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), indications of increased fire activity during the last 48 hours are visible from satellite imagery and further deterioration of AQI is expected for the next two days.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the southwest monsoon has withdrawn from northwestern parts of the country and conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal from parts of northwest India and adjoining central India during the next four to five days.

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The late monsoon withdrawal is not good for air quality in north India, it said. "During the 3rd to 4th week of October, the temperature will also start to cool. The anticyclone, which persists as part of the withdrawal, associated with clear skies and sinking motion will make the atmosphere very stable beneath means significantly calm surface winds," SAFAR said.

Both will lead to stagnant weather conditions like low wind speeds, descending air and compressed boundary layer, which favour rapid fine particulate matter formation and accumulation of pollutants.

It said the situation becomes worse if it is encountered with any additional internal (firecrackers) or external (stubble burning) emission source.

"In a landlocked city like Delhi, it may lead to rapid accumulation and may trigger high pollution events. However, if local emissions are controlled it will be a good check to observe and avoid air quality crises," it added.

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Another thing that could make matters worse for Delhi is the stubble burning in the neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab.

Already there are reports of isolated incidents of stubble burning in the two states. The number of such cases is expected to go up in the coming days.

The Delhi government has already announced that it will implement the odd-even traffic restriction in the national capital next month as a measure to keep the air quality under check.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced a seven-point action plan for Delhi last month to deal with air pollution, which included distribution of face masks and odd-even among others.