Delhi Air Quality Remains Poor, AQI Recorded At 281

Pollution levels in the national capital remained in the “poor” category on Sunday morning. At 9 AM, Delhi’s the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 281, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI in adjoining areas of Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon was registered at 302, 297, 251 and 253 respectively.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category. Despite the Supreme Court order, the stubble burning continues in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. However, many feel that the odd-even scheme has curtailed vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR.

The city recorded a decline in the pollution levels on Saturday with the air quality moving from the “very poor” to “poor” category owing to favourable wind speed.

It was a cold breezy Sunday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 14.5 degrees Celsius.

The weatherman has forecast that the maximum temperature is likely to settle at 29 degrees Celsius and there will be strong surface winds during the day.

Humidity was recorded at 76 per cent.

The worst smog was witnessed by Delhi- NCR after Diwali. A day after the festival, Delhi woke up to a hazy, smog-filled morning on October 28 with the Air Quality Index shooting to frightening 900 in some areas. Despite the Supreme Court ban, Diwali witnessed widespread use of firecrackers by people of Delhi-NCR. As predicted by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the morning air after Diwali was totally unbreathable.