With negligible wind speed, the city is enveloped in haze and mist in the morning which traps the pollutants, dust and smoke particles
The city will not get any respite from rising pollution level for the next one week given the current weather conditions and incessant stubble burning in adjoining Punjab and Haryana. The Air Quality Index (AQI) according to pollution apex body Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was 291 on Tuesday, just nine points away from 'very poor' marker. However, many places in Delhi like Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8 and Jahangirpuri recorded alarmingly high AQI, all within the 'very poor' category.
Experts have warned that slew of meteorological conditions will not let up the current polluted scenario for the next few days. "The wind speed is negligible, night temperature is low while humidity levels are high. Hence, the city is enveloped in haze and mist in the morning which traps the pollutants- dust and smoke particles and form a layer of smog," said an official of the weather department.
"Since no rain or strong northwesterly winds are predicted in the coming week due to Western Disturbances, the pollutants will not be dissipated and remain suspended near the earth surface, providing little breather from pollution," the official further said, adding that for a city grappling with vehicular and construction-induced pollution, the prevailing winds from northwest bring along the smoke from farm fires, making it difficult for the city to breathe.
The ambient air quality at Anand Vihar, one of the most polluted areas in Delhi was only 10 points less that 'severe' category, at 390 as AQI. PM 10 (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 micrometres) stood at 428 micrograms per cubic meter which was four times more than the permissible limit. Dwarka Sector 8 and Jahangirpuri also had worsened air quality with an AQI of 380 and 321 respectively.
Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board has enforced the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat the poor quality of air. Of the several measures implemented by them, ban of diesel gensets, garbage burning, mechanised sweeping of roads is among the prominent ones.
POLLUTED AIR
Farmers in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Patiala etc have been burning paddy straw to clear fields for sowing rabi crops. The smoke from these farm fires mix with pollutants in the atmosphere
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