After four days of remaining in the “very poor” category, Delhi’s air quality improved to the “poor” category on Friday with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 270 due to favourable wind speed. However, experts cautioned that the relief may be short-lived, as pollution levels are expected to rise again.
The 24-hour average AQI recorded till 4 pm on Friday was 270 as against 306 on Thursday, Central Pollution Control Board data showed. However, Delhi was still the second most polluted city in the country, behind Hanumangarh in Rajasthan which recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 277.
A senior India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist said, “Strong wind of 5 to 10 knots on Friday morning helped disperse the pollutants.”
According to Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the air quality is likely to be “very poor” between October 26 and 28. As per the outlook for subsequent six days, the air quality is likely to be in “very poor” to “severe” category.
The AQI levels in Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, and Wazirpur were recorded in the “very poor” category on Friday, even as 32 monitoring stations recorded “poor” air quality.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s transport sector was the biggest contributor to pollution, with emissions from transportation accounting for approximately 16% of the city’s air pollution, according to the Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management. The contribution from stubble burning was 14.5%.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday conducted a demonstration, showcasing drone-based services to identify sources of pollution in the hotspot areas. During the demonstration at Wazirpur, one of the city’s pollution hotspots, Rai said if the pilot project proves successful, drone mapping will be extended to other hotspots across the city.
The IMD has forecast clear sky for the next seven days along with mist on October 30 and 31 morning. It has also forecast a dip in wind speed from 8-10 kmph to 6-8 kmph.
According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, while 71 cases of stubble burning were reported in Punjab on Friday, the figure was three in Haryana, 23 in Uttar Pradesh and none in Delhi. In all, 3,298 cases of farm fires have been reported since September 15 – 1,749 in Punjab, 689 in Haryana, 849 in Uttar Pradesh and 11 in Delhi.