Air Quality Improves After Diwali

AQI recorded a Very 'Poor Category'

With the Diwali festival and the arrival of winter season, the capital city’s common problem has been brought into the focus. 

The pollution level of the city has climbed its Air Quality index (AQI) to a poor category. Earlier, on Tuesday the city reported very poor air quality on diwali. 

On Wednesday, Delhi's air quality improved back to favourable wind speed but it remained "poor". 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 262 at 6 am, improving from 303 at 4 pm on Tuesday. It was 312 at 4 pm on Monday, the day of Diwali. 

The neighbouring cities of Ghaziabad (262), Noida (246), Greater Noida (196), Gurugram (242) and Faridabad (243) reported "moderate" to "poor" air quality. 

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".

In the last two years, Delhi and its neighbouring areas had witnessed 'severe' air quality post Diwali, which was celebrated in November, with intense smog enveloping the region for days as stubble burning peaks during the month while low temperatures and calm winds trap pollutants.

According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the capital registered a 64 per cent reduction in PM2.5 concentration and a 57 per cent drop in PM10 levels on Diwali this year as compared to last year.

It attributed the relatively better air quality this time to the reduction in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, better meteorological conditions and "less bursting of firecrackers".

PC: ANI