Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Will Fluctuate In the Coming Days
Delhi is one of the worst affected cities in air pollution. The residents suffer from the consequences of polluted air every year. On Wednesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital will fluctuate over the coming days in the wake of the upcoming festive and winter season. However, this year Delhi witnessed lesser bursting of firecrackers on Dussehra which showed AQI (Air Quality Index) improvement.
Besides vehicular and industrial emissions, and dust issues, the major factors that accelerate the pollution in Delhi during winter are, stubble burning, bursting of firecrackers, and low wind speeds.
The AQI is a globally accepted standardised system which used to convey the level of air pollution to the public. It categorises air quality into six levels, and they are identified ad Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), Moderately polluted (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), and Severe (401-500).
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, the air quality in the national capital showed a slight improvement and marked “moderate” category, recording AQI at 190. However, in the coming days, it might go down under “poor” and “very poor” categories, predicts Centre”s Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.
To mitigate air pollution, Delhi government recently prohibited the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers within the Delhi city and plans to revive a public awareness campaign, “Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao,” to prevent the bursting of firecrackers.
The government is administering the district magistrates to check on the strict implementation of pollution mitigation efforts, and also identified eight pollution hotspots in addition to existing 13 in the city. Minister says they are planning to deploy dust suppressants powder to prevent dust pollution. A campaign titled, “Red Light On Gaadi Off,” aiming to reduce vehicular pollution will also be reintroduced on October 26.
