India
Starting October 15, strict measures to combat the menace of air pollution will come into force in the national capital and its adjoining areas such as Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad as part of the Graded Response Action Plan, which was first implemented in Delhi-NCR in 2017.
Updated : Oct 14, 2019, 08:09 AM IST | Edited by : Joydeep Bose
Air quality in Delhi plummeted to the 'Very Poor' category on Monday, with overall Air Quality Index (AQI) docking at 301, after remaining 'Poor' for the four consecutive days. According to sources, the Delhi (overall) AQI registered at 301 (PM 2.5) in the 'Very Poor' category while Lodhi Road AQI registered 289 (PM 2.5) in the 'Poor' category.
The AQI data for the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) at 6 AM:
Time - 6.00 AM
Delhi ( overall ) AQI - 301 ( PM2.5 )
Very Poor Category
Lodhi Road - 289 -( PM2.5 )
Poor Category
Delhi University - 305 - ( PM2.5 )
very poor category
Airport T3 - 302 - ( PM2.5 )
Very Poor Category
Noida - 343 -( PM2.5 ) , 341 ( PM 10 )
Very poor category
Gurugram - 230 - ( PM2.5 )
Poor Category
An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 is marked as severe/hazardous.
Yesterday, Delhi air quality remained poor for the fourth consecutive day with overall Air Quality Index (AQI) docking at 266. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the pollution level will plunge on the following days with the AQI oscillating between 'poor' to 'moderate' category'.
The locals are advised to take more breaks and do less intense activities. The asthmatics have been advised to keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier claimed that stubble burning in neighbouring states is one of the main causes of air pollution in the national capital. Farmers, however, believe that industry and automobiles are bigger causes of pollution than smoke from stubble burning.
Jovan Singh, a farmer said: "I believe pollution caused due to stubble burning is only five per cent rest 95 per cent is caused due to vehicles and factories. Government is not considering these causes of pollution, they are just focusing on farmers and the pollution caused by burning crop residue."
The farmers also said that they are ready to follow the government's instructions but they should be practical and economically viable.
Starting October 15, strict measures to combat the menace of air pollution will come into force in the national capital and its adjoining areas such as Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad as part of the Graded Response Action Plan, which was first implemented in Delhi-NCR in 2017.
(With ANI inputs)