Delhi air quality likely to be ‘severe’ again by Thursday

Condition may worsen from today

New Delhi: A cyclist rides through haze, on Rajpath road in New Delhi, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The air quality of Delhi plunged to very poor category for the first time this season on Wednesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)(PTI10_17_2019_000016A)

The air quality of the city on Monday was in the ‘poor’ category, and is expected to deteriorate from Tuesday and reach ‘severe’ level by Thursday.

The increase in pollution levels will be due to slow wind speed and increased affect of stubble burning happening in the neighbouring States, said forecasting agency SAFAR.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday was 214 (poor), a notch down from 215 (poor) on Sunday, the CPCB said.

The average level of PM 2.5 on Monday was 104.3 ug/m3 at 6 p.m., according to the CPCB. The safe limit is 60 ug/m3.

The contribution of stubble burning in neighbouring States to Delhi’s pollution was 9% on Monday, and is expected to rise to 13% on Tuesday. The contribution was high as 44% earlier this season, stated SAFAR.

“Pollutant accumulation leading to quick deterioration is predicted by November 20 and probability of AQI touching the lower end of ‘severe category’ on November 21 is high,” SAFAR stated.