Delhi Pollution: Air quality drops again; AQI recorded at 257

The national capital on Saturday woke up to a 'poor' air quality. At the Lodhi Road area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) PM 2.5 was at 247 (poor category) and PM 10 at 257 (poor category), according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). On Friday, no improvement was recorded in the AIR quality of the national capital. The AQI had stood at 353 - very poor category.

Delhi: According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, major pollutant PM 2.5 at 247 (poor) and PM 10 at 257 (poor), in Lodhi Road area. pic.twitter.com/rUVTwAWYVk

— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2018

"There is no system building up as surface winds are south-westerly. However, air quality is likely to deteriorate significantly on December 2 as a cloudy condition and decline in temperature is likely to bring down inversion layer to trap pollutants. The contribution from stubble biomass is nil," SAFAR said in a statement.

Meteorological conditions that slowed down dispersion of pollutants has kept Delhi's air quality in the 'poor' category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has come out with a list of nearly six lakh diesel and petrol vehicles that are over 10-years-old and will not be allowed to ply in Haryana.

The lists give details of the registration mark series, the name of the authority and registration numbers of these vehicles plying in Haryana, including NCR cities of Gurgaon, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh.

As many as 2,87,613 petrol vehicles that were older than 15 years have been listed while 3,07,453 diesel vehicles more than 10-years-old have also been named, the CPCB said on its website.

ALSO READ | Air pollution may up heart, lung disease risk: Study

Delhi is reeling under the menace of air pollution for the past couple of years. The region faced a major air quality crisis last year when severe pollution level forced the shutdown of schools and colleges. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out. 

AQI categories:

1. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’
2. AQI between 51 and 100 is ‘satisfactory’
3. AQI between 101 and 200 is ‘moderate’
4. AQI between 201 and 300 is ‘poor’
5. AQI between 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’