As Winter Approaches, Delhi-NCR's AQI Goes Down To 'Poor'

Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) further dips to 276 as haze engulfs town increasing worry over worsening air quality as winter approaches the national capital.

Delhi air quality on Saturday remained in the 'poor' category with a worse Air Quality Index (AQI) of 276 as compared to 242 on Friday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India), as of 10:00 am. With the departure of the monsoon season, concerns about worsening air quality across Delhi-NCR have been a priority for Delhi as well as the Central government. 

According to PTI, the minimum temperature in the national capital on Saturday stood at 21.4 degree Celsius, two notches above the season's average, officials said.

A visual posted by news agency ANI showed haze covering the skies around India Gate in the national capital. Similar visuals were seen in other areas of the town as well.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the AAP government has formed interdepartmental teams to improve air quality at the 13 air pollution hotspots in the capital. These hotspots are Narela, Bawana, Mundka, Wazirpur, Rohini, R K Puram, Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Mayapuri, Dwarka. These were identified based on the annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5, as per PTI. 

The Ministry of Earth Sciences said the air quality is likely to be in the lower end of 'Poor' category from Oct 13 to Oct 14. It said that the air quality is likely to remain in 'Moderate' category on Oct 15 (Sunday). The update stated that AQI is likely to remain in 'Moderate to Poor' category for the next six days.

IMD Environment Monitoring & Research head Vijay Kumar Soni told ANI that there are chances of rain after October 15 which may improve the AQI in the region.

"Yesterday, the AQI was in 'poor' category. Today, the AQI is 237, which comes under the 'poor' category. This will remain in the same category till tomorrow. But there is a chance of rain after October 15, this may improve the AQI and it would be back in 'moderate' or 'satisfactory' category," he said.

Notably, the Supreme Court earlier this week directed the Centre's air quality panel -- the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)-- to inform the Court about the steps taken concerning the air pollution in and around the National Capital.