Delhi’s air quality worsens after brief relief

New Delhi: The air quality of Delhi once again deteriorated to the ‘poor’ category on the last day of the year; the AQI of the city recorded at 236 at 8 am, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The air quality on Monday was in the ‘moderate’ category, following the heavy rainfall in the last week.

These are the AQI of several regions of Delhi: Nehru Nagar (324), Vivek Vihar (307), Jahangirpuri (301), Wazirpur (291), ITO (241), Dwarka-Sector 8 (246), Patparganj (286), Punjabi Bagh (264), Pusa (255), R K Puram (276), Rohini (266), Bawana (279), Alipur (250), and Ashok Vihar (230).

The Centre’s air quality monitoring panel on Friday revoked Stage III measures of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after witnessing improvement in the air quality. Despite the revocation of Stage III measures, the CAQM has instructed that construction and industrial activities previously halted for violations will remain suspended unless specifically permitted. Citizens have also been asked to follow GRAP’s Citizen Charter to sustain the improvement.

Also Read: Himachal’s recent snowfall brings relief to horticulture farmers

In fact, the panel has kept its eyes on the air quality so that the AQI remains constant. “We are keeping a watchful eye on air quality and will take additional measures if necessary,” the CAQM assured. Furthermore, the CAQM had clarified that it has intensified GRAP and intensified actions under Stage I and II of the revised Graded Response Action Plan.

The recent rain has brought a lot of relief to the Delhi residents so that the AQI of the national capital is on the trend of improvement. However, weather forecast provider IMD/IITM has made it clear that the AQI of Delhi is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category in the coming days.