Air Quality Continues To Remain In ‘Very Poor’ Category In Most Parts Of Delhi

New Delhi: The air quality in several parts of Delhi continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday (December 11), as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI was recorded in the ‘very poor’ range, at 346, in the RK Puram area at 8 a.m. on Monday, according to the CPCB. The AQI in Anand Vihar stood at 310 at 8 am, according to CPCB data. According to CPCB, the AQI at ITO was also recorded in the ‘Very Poor’ range at 328 in the morning. Pictures from India Gate showed a thick layer of fog in the area, resulting in low visibility.

Also Read: Outdoor Air Pollution Accounts For Over 2 Million Deaths Annually In India: BMJ Study

Meanwhile, air quality in certain parts of the city witnessed some improvement, as AQI in the Ashok Vihar area was recorded in the ‘poor’ category at 298 at 8:00 am, as compared to AQI on Sunday recorded at 327 at 8:00 am. Similarly, air quality in Narela saw a negligible improvement as the AQI in the area came down from ‘very poor’ at 331 on Sunday to ‘poor’ at 300 on Monday at 8:00 a.m.

Earlier on Sunday, the overall air quality index in the national capital slipped to the ‘very poor’ category, the CPCB informed.

As a thick layer of fog blanketed the city on Sunday, the AQI was recorded in the ‘very poor’ range, at 345, in the RK Puram-Munirka area at 8 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The air quality in Anand Vihar stood at 315 at 8 a.m., according to CPCB data. AQI at ITO was recorded in the ‘very poor’ range at 324 in the morning, at 8 a.m. The AQI Dhaula Kuan also hovered in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the CPCB.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) put out a forecast for the national capital earlier, saying there was no likelihood of showers till December 11. It predicted clear skies with shallow to moderate fog in the morning across the city.

The city has been experiencing air quality in the range of ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ over the last few weeks.

The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered ‘good’, 100 to 200 ‘moderate’, 200 to 300 ‘poor’, 300 to 400 ‘very poor’ and from 400 to 500 or above ‘severe’.

Also Read: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Points Out Two Main Factors For Rising Pollution

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.