New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital was recorded in the “severe” category on Sunday, as stubble fires continued to be reported in Punjab and nearby regions.
According to the SAMEER mobile app of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s General Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 426, which is in the “severe” category.
The air quality monitoring system of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the System for Research and Forecasting Weather and Air Quality (SAFAR) said the situation is unlikely to improve unless there is a drastic reduction. in stubble fire counts.
“Winds on the surface have calmed down, which until now were moderate, and are expected to remain low in magnitude for the next two days. This is the main factor by which a rapid recovery is not expected unless there is a drastic reduction in the fire count, ”said SAFAR.
According to SAFAR, the number of stubble fires in Punjab, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand and neighboring areas stood at 3,780 on Saturday and its share of PM 2.5 in Delhi air was estimated at 29% by Sunday.
It was estimated at 32 percent for Saturday.
SAFAR stated that air quality is likely to deteriorate marginally and remain in the upper end of the “very bad” category for the next two days.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor” and 401 and 500 “severe”.
Of the 35 monitoring stations in Delhi, 31 recorded “severe” AQI. The only stations with AQI in the “very poor” category were Lodhi Road at 333, NSIT Dwarka at 377 and Pusa at 374.
North Campus data was not available.
The NCR area also posted a “severe” AQI with Gurgaon at 434, Ghaziabad at 456, Noida 428, and Greater Noida at 440.
The agricultural fire count stood at 4,528 on Friday, the highest this season, and the central government’s Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi indicates that the city’s air quality is likely to remain “as well.” severe “on Diwali.
The AQI registered at 427 on Saturday night.
SAFAR said the proportion of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution was estimated at 21 percent on Friday. On Thursday it was 42 percent, the highest so far this season.
Last year, the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s pollution had peaked at 44 percent on Nov. 1, according to SAFAR data.
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