With an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 388, Delhi continued to breathe “very bad” air on Friday. According to the data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India), most parts of the national capital continue to record an AQI above 350.
The AQI in the Lodhi Road area was recorded at 359, while the Delhi University area and the Airport area (Terminal-3) recorded AQIs at 386 and 398 respectively.
However, some parts like Pusa (403) and IIT Delhi (579) continued to struggle with “severe” air quality.
According to data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Anand Vihar was 411, while those in Alipur, Wazirpur and RK Puram were also in the “severe” range at 432, 443 and 422 respectively.
The AQI from 0 to 100 is considered “good”, from 100 to 200 “moderate”, from 200 to 300 “poor”, from 300 to 400 “very poor” and from 400 to 500 or higher “severe”.
Following a significant improvement in the overall AQI in the national capital last week, the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) withdrew restrictions imposed under Graded Response Action Plan 4 (Grap-4). It allowed trucks and buses, except BS-3 and BS-4 petrol and diesel vehicles, to enter the city and lifted the ban on ongoing construction activities.
Grap-3 will continue until air quality improves
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday that restrictions under the Grap-3 norms will remain in place until air quality improves in the city. He also said the city’s air quality is expected to improve in the next two to three days.
“Scientists say that the air quality will improve in the next two to three days. As per the current conditions, it has been decided that the Grap-3 regulation will remain in place in Delhi for the time being,” he said.
The minister added that the restrictions under Grap 4 have been amended and now include a ban on BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles with All India Permit, which were earlier allowed to enter Delhi.
“If the air quality in Delhi deteriorates in the future and Grap 4 is invoked again, such vehicles will be denied entry into the national capital,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state government may impose stricter measures to curb air pollution in the city if the rules are ignored, Rai said as he appealed to residents to adhere to the rules.
Phase 4 is the final phase of Grap, which will be activated at least three days before the capital’s AQI crosses the 450 mark.
Minimum temperature lower than the seasonal average
As air quality in Delhi remains “very poor”, the maximum temperature on Thursday remained at 26.7 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year. However, the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below the seasonal average.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department forecast, there may be partly cloudy skies with shallow to moderate fog in the morning on Friday. The maximum and minimum temperatures fluctuate around 26 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively.
SC’s stand on stubble burning
Earlier last week, the Supreme Court suggested that farmers engaged in stubble burning would be denied the benefits of Minimum Support Price (MSP) as part of the economic fallout of their actions.
The top court made this observation while hearing a plea regarding rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
(With input from the agency)