A layer of smog covered the skies of Delhi-NCR on Thursday on Chhath Puja as the air quality slipped back into the severe zone with unfavorable meteorological conditions aiding accumulation of pollutants, authorities said.
The AQI is likely to remain in the upper end of the ‘very poor’ or lower end of the ‘severe’ categories over the next two days, and conditions could improve on November 13, the forecast indicates.
Delhi’s daily Covid case count on Wednesday crossed 50 after nearly two months, as 54 cases were reported in the city. The positivity rate stood at 0.09% and no deaths were reported.
Meanwhile, to get rid of the toxic foam settled in the Yamuna river, the Delhi government sprayed water, used boats and tried to erect a makeshift barricade on Wednesday to “scatter” the froth. Sources at the Delhi Jal Board said that the DPCC had called for a meeting soon to figure out long-term solutions to deal with the 150 MGD of polluted water that reaches the Okhla barrage.
Experts said that due to the calmer winds at night, the locally sourced pollutants accumulate and cause air quality to deteriorate. Though the emissions from stubble burning as a constituent in Delhi’s PM2.5 reduced from 30% on Monday to 27% on Tuesday, the forecasting body System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research categorised the share as “high” and the impact as “significant”.
In some areas, the air quality plunged to the 'severe' category.
According to reports, Delhi University's North Campus area recorded an AQI of 441, Pusa road reported an AQI of 379, the Mathura road reported an AQI of 422, Lodhi road and IIT Delhi of 367.
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The air quality in the national capital remained on the higher side of the 'very poor' category on Tuesday, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) logged at 381. Meanwhile, facing criticism over worsening air quality in the national capital, the AAP government has introduced a five-point plan to bring Delhiites respite from pollution.