According to experts, the cause behind the drop in the air quality is the change in the wind's direction, which is now flowing from areas in Haryana and Punjab where stubble is burnt around this time.
The air quality in Delhi remained 'poor' for a second consecutive day with the overall air quality index (AQI) being reported at 211 at 4 pm on Saturday. The AQI on Friday was registered at 259.
According to experts, the cause behind the drop in the air quality is the change in the wind's direction, which is now flowing from areas in Haryana and Punjab where stubble is burnt around this time.
"This is the period of monsoon withdrawals and a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea is developing. Such large scale processes tend to calm the wind speed which is usual for this time. This tends to increase the pollution level. The impact of local transport is insignificant so far," said Gufran Beig, project director at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
SAFAR has also forecasted further deterioration of air quality in the next two days with the PM10 expected to touch 210 and PM2.5 to reach 104 in the next three days.
An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10mm) was at 191 in Delhi and the PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) in the city was 94, according to the data by SAFAR.
On Friday, Gurgaon recorded 'very poor' air quality at 330, while other satellite cities, Faridabad and Noida recorded poor air quality at 247 and 232 respectively, according Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Delhi environment minister, Imran Hussain wrote to the Union Minister of Environment, Harsh Vardhan on Friday requesting to direct neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to take air pollution control measures due to crop residue burning.
Earlier, it was predicted that a dust storm will hit the national Capital which would further deteriorate the air quality, but, there are no indications of a big storm as of now. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, a senior official at the Supreme Court mandated body Environment Pollution Control Authority said.
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