Delhiites got a little ray of hope with air quality in the national capital region witnessing a slow but significant improvement from the past two days. However, owing to unfavourable weather conditions and stubble burning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) Saturday dipped to 'severe' level barely hours after staying in the 'very poor' category, the authorities said.
While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a better AQI of 394 this morning, by evening the pollution in Delhi peaked again, jumping from 'very poor' category to 'severe' level with an increased AQI of 403.
On Saturday evening, the major pollutant particle was PM 2.5, crossing 500 micrograms per metre cube and the PM 10 level was recorded at 298 in Lodhi road area, New Delhi, according to a data shared by the Pollution Control Board.
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The increase in PM 2.5 concentration on Saturday is attributed to the stable meteorological conditions, trapping of pollutants and stubble burning in Delhi, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said in a statement.
The air quality in Delhi has been severe post-Diwali festivities with netizens bursting crackers till late at night despite the Supreme Court's order to burst firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm only.
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Amid this raising concern over the prevailing adverse conditions in the Delhi-NCR region, the Environment Pollution Control Authority also decided to extend the ban on construction activities, industries using coal and biomass and entry of trucks till November 12. Post that the Pollution Control board will review the situation and direct the concerned authorities accordingly.
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