PTI, NEW DELHI: Delhi continued to battle severe pollution for the fourth consecutive day even as authorities said that increased wind speed may bring respite and improve the air quality.
While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) at ‘severe’ level of 408, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) showed an AQI of 385 which falls in the very poor category. Twenty-three areas recorded severe pollution level, while 12 areas witnessed very poor air quality, the CPCB data showed.
In NCR, Ghaziabad recorded severe air quality while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded very poor air quality.
The overall PM2.5 level — fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometer — was recorded at 263 and the PM10 level at 400 here, the CPCB said.
Delhi’s air quality turned ‘severe’ on Saturday. The national capital recorded its second highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450.
According to SAFAR, Delhi’s overall air quality is expected to improve due to increased wind speed.
“The forecasting model predicts a faster improvement due to faster dispersion. The AQI will go back to very poor category by tonight for next three days,” it said. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the air quality is likely to improve but will remain in the upper end of the ‘very poor to severe’ category.
“The wind speed and ventilation index are highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants,” it said.
Ventilation index is the speed at which pollutants can get dispersed. A ventilation index lower than 6000 sqm/second, with average wind speed less than 10 kmph, is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants.
The index was 5000 sqm/second on Tuesday, the IITM said.
In view of prevalence of severe pollution in the national capital, industrial activities in pollution hotspots of Wazirpur, Mundka, Narela, Bawana, Sahibabad and Faridabad, and construction work across Delhi-NCR will remain shut till Wednesday.
