Delhi's Air Quality Improves Today But Remains In ‘Poor’ Category With AQI At 283

The city-wise AQI index on the CPCB website at 9 am on Thursday showed the AQI value of Delhi at 284. 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) moved from the 'very poor' category to the 'poor' category in the national capital

The overall air quality in the national capital witnessed a slight improvement as the Air Quality Index (AQI) moved from the 'very poor' category to the 'poor' category on Thursday morning, according to the central pollution control board (CPCB).

The city-wise AQI index on the CPCB website at 9 am on Thursday showed the AQI value of Delhi at 284.  On Wednesday, AQI was in the “very poor” category with a reading of 304 according to CPCB’s daily 4 pm bulletin.

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“, and 401 and 500 “severe“.

The commission for air quality management (CAQM) in the national capital region (NCR)’s sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) on Wednesday revoked all measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap).

The Centre’s air quality panel ordered the lifting of curbs under stage 3 of the anti-pollution action plan in Delhi-NCR, including a ban on non-essential construction work just three days after it imposed them when Delhi’s AQI became ‘severe’.

The Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) held a review meeting in view of a significant improvement in the air quality in Delhi-NCR, according to the news agency PTI report.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the air quality index is not likely to slip into the ‘severe’ category in the next few days.

Amid favourable meteorological conditions, the air pollution in Delhi is likely to ameliorate and stay in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ range in the coming days, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said in an order. Thursday’s minimum temperature settled at 8.3°C, a degree below the normal category for this time of year. The IMD's weekly forecast said the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 25°C on Thursday.