New Delhi: The people residing in India continue to inhale the ‘poor category’ air quality for the last one week, and relief is unlikely until the end of the month, according to weather-monitoring agencies. Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 325, worsening from 304 on Saturday and 261 (“poor”) on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It was 256 on Thursday, 243 on Wednesday and 220 on Tuesday. The AQI was 286 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 309 in Faridabad, 198 in Gurugram, 281 in Noida and 344 in Greater Noida. 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”.
The city’s air quality deteriorated to the “very poor” category on Saturday due to a slow wind speed at night and a dip in temperatures. The air quality is expected to remain very poor till the end of the month, according to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai demanded that the Centre impose a strict ban on buses operating with poor-quality diesel in the National Capital Region (NCR) areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The air quality has not only deteriorated in the national capital, but other parts of India, including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Maharashtra
While Delhi and parts of the NCR region are grappling with ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Poor’ air quality, the overall air quality in Mumbai continues to remain in the ‘Moderate’ category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai on Sunday morning was recorded at 139, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India.
As per the latest data from SAFAR, the air quality in the Worli area was marked ‘Satisfactory’ with AQI at 75.
The air quality around Navi Mumbai was recorded at 139 (Moderate) in the morning hours while that in Andheri was at 104, and in Mazagaon was recorded at 192, also in the ‘Moderate’ category.
Pune recorded an AQI of 156 (Moderate). In the areas of Pashan and Hadapsar, the air quality was marked ‘Satisfactory’. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed dust suppression vehicles in major locations namely Worli Sea Face, Haji Ali, Pedder Road, Girgaum Chowpatty, Nariman Point, Fashion Street, Badhwar Park and World Trade Centre to control dust. Earlier this month, Mumbai was recording air quality under the ‘good category’.
Also Read: Air Quality In Delhi Continues To Remain In ‘Very Poor’ Category
Uttar Pradesh
In Kanpur, the overall air quality has plunged into the ‘poor’ category, with the AQI recorded at 214, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India. After being in the ‘moderate’ category earlier this week, with an AQI of 166, the air quality has slipped into the ‘poor’ category. Visuals from various locations across Kanpur showed a thick fog and haze surrounding parts of the city.
As air quality deteriorates, people have started complaining of facing health problems. Sushil Kumar, a local resident, while speaking to ANI.
We are experiencing irritation in the eyes and respiratory issues. The smog might not be highly visible, but pollution is present.
Another local resident, Brajesh, said,
We are now compelled to wear masks due to the pollution that is causing respiratory problems.
Also Read: Haryana’s Air Quality Index Falls Into Poor Category
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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