Delhi's air quality dips, may enter ‘poor’ category by Monday

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality is gradually deteriorating and likely to turn “poor” by Monday due to weather conditions and rise in stubble burning cases. Air Quality Index (AQI) stayed in the higher end of “moderate” category in the last two days— 189 on Saturday and 180 on Friday.



According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the forecasting body under the union ministry of earth sciences, Delhi’s AQI is likely to stay in the higher end of the moderate category on Sunday. “PM2.5 contribution is increasing as characteristic of wintertime. Further deterioration and the higher end of moderate to lower end of the poor category are likely by October 5,” said SAFAR on Saturday.

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The government body added, “An increase in stubble burning fires observed on Friday around Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring border regions is likely to start impacting Delhi in the coming days.”

Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at India Meteorological Department, said, “If the stubble burning increases, the north westerly wind direction is favourable for pollutants to reach Delhi and affect the AQI.”

Cases of stubble burning have slowly started rising in Punjab and Haryana, satellite images have shown in the last few days.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai had said last month, “Last year, the stubble burning comprised 44% of Delhi’s pollution apart from Delhi’s own share of pollutants.”

This year, Delhi has so far enjoyed clean air compared with 2019. Only two “severe” air quality days were recorded in January and 15 “very poor” days in January and February this year. Delhi saw 33 “poor” days in January and February this year while two “poor” days were recorded each in March, May and June. Four “good” days were recorded in August and one each in March and April.

While an AQI reading of 50 or below is classified as “good”, readings between 51 and 100 fall in the “satisfactory” category and those between 101 and 200 are classified as “moderate”. “Poor” air ranges from 201 to 300, “very poor” from 301 to 400 and “severe” from 401 to 500.