Delhi’s air quality likely to deteriorate from October 1 to 3: IMD

New Delhi: The air quality of Delhi is likely to further deteriorate from October 1 to 3, as per the forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to remain between 150 and 230, which is in the category of ‘poor’. Last week the air quality was a bit better; the AQI touched 104, a sign of moderate air quality.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the launch of a 24×7 ‘Green War Room’ for the monitoring of air pollution in Delhi. The war room consists of an 8-member team of environmental engineers and experts tasked with tackling air quality issues.

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Currently, the AQI in New Delhi stands at 147, with PM2.5 levels leaving behind the World Health Organization’s recommended limits for 24-hour exposure. It is a historical fact that the air quality of Delhi starts deteriorating in the month of October and it will continue till mid-January. The national capital will have to face the stubble burning and Diwali festival when Delhi becomes a gas chamber.

In spite of current deterioration, IMD has assured that the air quality will improve next week, and the AQI is expected to drop to 171, which falls in the moderate category.

Rai stated that the war room team will have several duties, such as analyzing NASA satellite data on stubble burning, conducting drone mapping, and looking after the AQI round the clock. They will also handle complaints via the Green Delhi App and coordinate with other departments if necessary.