Smog Covers Delhi Skies As AQI Worsens To 309, AAP Minister Gopal Rai Calls Meet At Noon Today

Delhi air quality has worsened with AQI standing at 309 with several stations recording an air quality index of more than 300.

Winter is at the doorstep of Delhi-NCR and so is smog and pollutants and it seems masks would soon be on the faces of residents here as air quality deteriorated to 'Very Poor' on Monday. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR India), Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI ) of 309 on Monday morning (as of 8 am) with a fine blanket of smoke visible in the skies. The annual tussle of the national capital with air pollution is back and the AAP government as well as the Centre are at the task of dealing with it.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) live air quality index, Bawana in Delhi recorded an AQI of 333, the index is at 320 at Dwarka Sector 8 station. The Lodi Road-IMD observatory recorded an AQI of 258. On the other hand, neighbouring Gurugram is no better with a 'Poor' AQI of 269.

Speaking on rising pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the speed of the wind has decreased in the city due to cold weather which has eventually escalated the pollution levels. He said that a meeting of officials has been called for the execution of GRAP phase 2 at 12 pm on Monday.

"The particulate matter is staying near the ground. The second phase of GRAP has been implemented in Delhi... A meeting has been called with all the concerned departments to discuss the execution of the GRAP phase 2... The weather is not in our hands but the sources need to be controlled... GRAP 2 is mainly about cleaning and water sprinkling etc... Frequency of buses and trains would be increased... A meeting has been called at 12 pm (today)..." he said.

"We have spoken to the environment ministers of the surrounding states and they have assured that they will take action on stubble burning... Due to Diwali, stubble and Dussehra, the next 10 to 15 days are very crucial for Delhi..." Rai added.

The air pollution menace is not limited to the national capital region only. Mumbai AQI stood at 127, in the 'Moderate' category, as per SAFAR India data.

The Bandra Kurla complex observatory in Mumbai witnessed a worse AQI of 196 while the number is slightly better at Borivali East station with an AQI of 129, as of 8 am data of CPCB. The air quality in Colaba is recorded in the 'Poor' category with an AQI of 250.