Delhi Pollution: Smog blankets national capital, air quality drops to ‘very poor’

The national capital on Sunday woke up to dense smog with the air quality in the 'very poor' category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). On Saturday, the level of PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometre) was recorded at 150 and the PM10 level was recorded at 299.

Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality while Gurugram and Faridabad recorded 'poor' air quality, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

"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.

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The CPCB has sent show-cause notices to municipal bodies --- South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation --- for failing to check air polluting activities under their jurisdiction, asking why their commissioners should not be prosecuted for inaction.

The Supreme Court had on Monday asked the CPCB to prosecute government officials for not acting on around 250 complaints received by it from citizens.

"Why don't you prosecute these officials? You should prosecute them. Let these people realise what they have done," the Supreme Court had told the CPCB.

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 levels 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.

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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’