The air quality continued to remain in the 'very poor' category in the national capital on Tuesday, with several areas breaching the 300-mark across the city, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
As per SAFAR, the AQI in the overall Delhi region was in the 'very poor' category at 303. In the Delhi University area and Pusa, the air quality was recorded as 'very poor' and 'poor' with AQI at 335 and 242, respectively. IIT Delhi breached the very poor category with an AQI of 306. The quality of air at the Airport (T3) was also in the very poor category, with an AQI of 313. The Mathura Road recorded 173 AQI, coming under the moderate category. Cyclists, joggers and morning walkers were seen exercising near India Gate in the national capital.
In Mumbai, however, overall air quality is in the 'Moderate' category, with the AQI at 132 as per SAFAR-India.
Earlier on Monday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding the non-attendance of officials in the meeting which was called in view of the increasing pollution in the national capital. The Environment Minister, in his letter, also sought to convene a meeting of the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) and appoint officers who would work to reduce pollution effectively.
The worsening Air Quality Index of the national capital has the government concerned. Stubble burning has been on the rise recently with farmers in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana burning the residues of their crops to clear the field for the new plantation.