Delhi Pollution: Relief From Rain Continues For Capital On Diwali But AQI Still 'Poor'

The air quality in Delhi continued to remain in "poor" category on Diwali day.

The air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the "poor" category on Sunday morning. The city has witnessed an improvement on Diwali day as compared to previous days when the air quality had been in "severe" category. The Air Quality Index at Anand Vihar was 266, at RK Puram 241, in Punjabi Bagh at 233 and in ITO at 227, according to Central Pollution Control Board. 

Light showers and favourable wind speed on Friday helped in dispersing pollutants in the air bringing down the air quality from "severe" to "poor" category. 

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", 401 and 450 "severe" and above 450 "severe plus".

The India Meteorological Department had earlier predicted slight improvement in the air quality just ahead of Diwali, owing to favourable meteorological conditions, including light rain, under the influence of a western disturbance. 

In view of worsening air quality in the city, the Delhi government had imposed stringent restrictions mandated under the final stage Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) — Centre's air pollution control plan for Delhi-NCR — which inlcuded a ban on all kinds of construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi. 

The city government has also planned to induce artificial rain on November 20-21 through cloud seeding.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had imposed a nationwide ban on firecrackers containing barium in order to curb pollution in the country. 

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh asked the Rajasthan government to comply with its earlier directions on bursting of firecrackers during Diwali.

"Sensitising common people about the harmful effects of firecrackers is the key. Ironically, nowadays children don't burst many firecrackers but elders do. It is a wrong perception that it is the duty of the court when it comes to pollution and environment protection. People have to come forward. It is for everyone to manage air and sound pollution," the bench said.

While expecting further deterioration in the air quality in the days following Diwali, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that the odd-even vehicle system would be enforced between November 13 and 20.