Delhi's air quality continues to be 'very poor' with the AQI at 336

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which reported air quality until 4 PM on October 31, the air quality index for Delhi stood at 359 which falls under the "Very Poor" category

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 336 on Wednesday morning, which falls under the "very poor" category, according to data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar)-India. The AQI in the national capital has been "very poor" for the fourth day in a row. According to Safar-India, the city's AQI has been in the "very poor" category since Sunday.

According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which reported air quality until 4 PM on October 31, the air quality index for Delhi stood at 359, which falls under the "Very Poor" category.

 

How is the air quality in the Delhi NCR region?

Air quality in the Delhi NCR region continues to be unhealthy, with most cities under the "poor" or "very poor" category. Air quality in Ghaziabad was reported to be poor, with an AQI index at 251. Greater Noida, on the other hand, had an AQI index value of 375 and fell under the "very poor category, according to CPCB data.

Gurugram also had unhealthy air, with an air quality index value of 254, which is categorised as being "poor". Another Haryana district adjoining the national capital, Sonipat had a "very poor" AQI index value of 382. Bahadurgarh at 378 was also under the "very poor" category. Meerut recorded "poor" air quality with an index value of 295.

Hanumangarh in Rajasthan recorded the worst air quality, with an AQI index value touching 399. Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, had the best air quality with a "Good" rating and AQI index value of 35.

Also Read: No fireworks in Delhi, Mumbai during World Cup matches as pollution worsens

What is the Delhi government doing to curb pollution?

Last week, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that a 15-point winter action plan is being implemented one by one to curb pollution. "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier announced a 15-point winter action plan to curb the pollution caused by vehicles, biomass burning, dust, etc. Now, this winter action plan is being implemented on the ground one by one to reduce pollution in the national capital," Rai had told ANI.

What is Grap?

The Centre's Pollution Control Board (PCB) designed its Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) measures to contain the situation of rising pollution. As the name suggests, it is a graded response measure which is employed depending on the severity of the air quality. It has four different sets of response stages.

Under Stage I, construction and demolition activities on a plot size of or above 500 square meters are prohibited. Restaurants and hotels are directed to stop using coal and firewood in tandoors. Moreover, the government has begun automated cleaning of the roads for dust management. It is brought into effect when AQI is "poor".

Under Stage II, the parking fees are hiked to penalise the usage of private vehicles. To encourage usage of public transport, the frequency of local buses and Metro is increased. It is initiated when AQI is "very poor".

Under Stage III, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are prohibited from entering Delhi-NCR, in addition to other measures. Moreover, all construction activities, except government projects, are stopped. The entry of commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi is prohibited in the capital. This stage is activated when AQI is "severe".

Under Stage IV, all construction and demolition activity, government or private, is completely banned. Online classes and provisions for remote work are made. The government starts this stage when the pollution levels are "severe-plus".

What is AQI?

The Air Quality Index is a tool for communicating air quality status to people. There are six AQI categories, namely good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor, and severe. 

Each of these categories is decided based on the ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints). According to the AQI scale, the air quality check between 0 and 50 is "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 450 "severe".

Amid rising pollution in major Indian cities, read Business Standard's article on what is the need of the hour. 

(With agency inputs)