New Delhi: As Delhi air quality continued to remain in the “poor” category on Wednesday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said although the Air Quality Index (AQI) has dropped below 300, it is expected to surge again after October 30, news agency ANI reported.
Speaking to the news agency, Rai said, “Two days back, the AQI level in Delhi was above 300. A decrease in the AQI level has been recorded and it has come below 300. I think that in the days to come, this will keep fluctuating. It is being estimated that after 30th October this will perhaps go up again.”
Delhi on Wednesday recorded AQI 238 while on Tuesday the national capital clocked AQI 223.
Speaking on the nature of the pollution in Delhi, Rai further said, “We are analysing our data, it shows that PM 10 - dust pollution - is going down in Delhi. Anti-dust campaign has been run across Delhi and all areas are being focussed on. Water sprinkling is being done. So, PM 10 is going down but PM 2.5 is going up. Vehicular pollution and pollution caused due to biomass burning outside play a major role in this. Keeping this in mind, we have called a meeting at Delhi Secretariat regarding preparations for the public awareness campaign - 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' that will be started from 26th October.”
The minister said firecrackers were burst in lesser number of locations on the occasion of Dussehra in Delhi as compared to previous years. He further urged the other states in the Delhi-NCR to impose ban on firecrackers to check the rising air pollution in the region.
“I think that comparatively, firecrackers were burst at lesser number of locations this time (during Dussehra)...I would like to once again request the states in Delhi-NCR to ban firecrackers because it is easily available to people in their states. I think if NCR states ban it too, this will have a better impact on Delhi,” the minister told the news agency.