Delhi Air Quality Plunges To 'Severe' Again, Capital's Quest For Clean Air Continues

Delhi air quality plunges to "severe" category with AQI at 401 on Monday, as per Central Pollution Control Board.

Delhi air quality was in "severe" category on Monday

Delhi’s ongoing struggle for clean air continued on Monday as the air quality slipped to the “severe” category. The overall Air Quality Index of Delhi was at 401, according to the data published by Central Pollution Control Board on Monday 8 am. On Sunday, the city logged an AQI of 396, as per CPCB data. 

However, monitoring agencies have said that a change in meteorological conditions due to a western disturbance may bring some relief, as per a PTI report. 

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai also expressed hope that the air quality would continue to improve for the next two days owing to an increase in wind speed and probability of rain.

On Sunday Rai said: “In the last two to three days there was a rise in pollution but today we have come out of the 'severe category'. It is predicted that from today the wind speed will increase, and there is a probability of rain also. The improvement in air quality, which is being noticed from today, will continue to rise and in the next two days, air quality will improve.”

This year, the national capital has recorded 10 days of severe air quality so far in the month of November compared to three days last year in the same month.

Rai said that biomass burning has also been contributing to the high levels of pollution in the city. 

"The contribution of biomass burning is visible because the current pollution is due to local sources. It is coming from NCR to Delhi. I think we have to make a collective effort and the changes in the weather are also providing a scope for improvement in the air quality," he said, as per ANI. 

An AQI from 0-50 implies "good" air quality while a reading between 51-100 means "satisfactory" air quality. 'Moderate' air quality falls between an AQI of 101-200 while 201-300 comes under "poor" category. A city's air quality will be "very poor" when it falls between 301-400 and between 401-500 becomes "severe" air quality.