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Delhi's 'very poor' air quality likely to worsen

MeT forecasts say situation will worsen this week: Delhi Environment Minister issues directives

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A smoggy day in Delhi
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Delhi's air quality once again fell to the 'very poor' category for the third day with authorities getting all set for the coming days. The Air Quality Index (AQI), as maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was 326 on a scale of 500.

Experts warned the situation may worsen in the coming days. As a preventive measure, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain — in a letter to the chief of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee DPCC) — said the ambient air quality has improved comparatively but things will soon deteriorate.

"However, various meteorological forecasts and reports indicate that this phase is temporary and ambient air quality may once again worsen in the coming weeks," Hussain wrote.

He also issued a slew of directions, including road side spraying of water, mechanical sweeping and preventing the burning of waste in the open to combat rising pollution levels.

He said the municipal bodies should avoid manual sweeping and in case alternatives are not available then the water must be sprinkled beforehand.

"Provide electrical heater to security guards in cold winter night to discourage burning of biomass for heating. Non biomass heating facility should be provided at the night shelters," he said.

The levels of ultrafine particulates PM 2.5 and PM 10 were 146 and 235 microgrammes per cubic metre as per the Centre-run SAFAR, as against the safe standards of 60 and 100. A 'very poor' AQI comes with the warning that people may develop respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.

Earlier this month, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the Capital as 'gas chamber' after the air quality turned 'severe'.

AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria even claimed that around 25,000-30,000 people may die due to the rising air pollution.

Meanwhile, Delhi witnessed a chilly weather on Tuesday with Palam Observatory recording minimum temperature of 9.7°C, which is the season's lowest night temperature. In fact, this was three degrees below the normal average temperature of 13.6°C.

Not only minimums but day maximums are also settling below the average by 2-3 degrees. According to Skymet Weather, these cold northerly winds will continue for another 48 hours till November 23. Therefore, we can expect further fall both the morning and night temperatures.

Both the observatories in Delhi had been recording mercury around 15°C, which had seen a significant drop of five degrees on November 20. The reason for this sudden drop can be attributed to flow of icy cold northerly and northwesterly winds from the snow clad Himalayas.

GASPING FOR AIR

  • Delhi --- 316 (hazardous)
     
  • Anand Vihar--258 (unhealthy)
     
  • Faridabad- 162 (unhealthy)
     
  • Gurgaon --- 176(unhealthy)
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