Delhi’s air quality worsens, moves to ‘very poor’ category
The national capital's air quality slipped back into the “very poor” category again on Tuesday after recording a marginal improvement
New Delhi: The national capital's air quality slipped back into the “very poor” category again on Tuesday after recording a marginal improvement over the last 24 hours.
Officials at the India Meteorological Department said the air quality had improved on Monday with high wind speed aiding dispersion of pollutants.
The city recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 332 at 10 am. The 24-hour average (AQI) was 293, which falls in the "poor" category.
It was 364 on Sunday, with stubble burning contributing 40 percent to Delhi's pollution.
An AQI between 0 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 a bid to control pollution, the Delhi government has also said that only “green firecrackers” can be manufactured, sold and used in the national capital in accordance with a 2018 Supreme Court order.
Fireworks can take place between 8 pm and 10 pm only on festivals like Diwali and Gurpurab etc. On Christmas eve and New Year eve, it would be from 11:55 pm till 12:30 am only, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.