Delhi air pollution level remains ‘severe’ for fifth day

The pollution level in Delhi dipped on Friday but continued to remain in the ‘severe’ category.

Authorities, however, expressed hope that the air quality would improve during the day due to dispersion of pollutants.

The pollution level that fell to “severe plus” state is easing due to dispersion of pollutants, Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute  (SAFAR) said.

As per the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm) was recorded at 522 in Delhi-NCR and 529 in Delhi on Friday.

The PM10 level had risen to 778 in Delhi-NCR area and 824 in Delhi on Wednesday, which means severe pollution could be a ‘summer-time problem’ too.

The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) that deteriorated from “very poor” to “severe” has now returned to “very poor” category.  It was 124 in Delhi-NCR and Delhi today, the CPCB data said.

Meanwhile, the civil construction activities remain halted in the city till Sunday.

The dip in the air quality level was noted on Tuesday due to dust storms in western India, particularly Rajasthan, which increased coarser particles in the air, the CPCB had said.

But the dispersion of pollutants became faster after the local winds picked up speed on Friday which in turn improved the air quality, said Gufran Beig, a scientist at SAFAR.

The air quality is expected to improve further, Beig said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a cloudy day in the national capital with the possibility of thundershowers.

(With inputs from agencies)