Delhi Pollution: Smog covers national capital as air quality turns ‘severe’

The national capital on Sunday woke up to witness dense smog as 'severe' air quality was recorded. The major pollutants PM 2.5 were recorded at 456 and PM 10 at 521 (very poor category) in the RK Puram area. In the Anand Vihar area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) PM 2.5 was at 604 and PM 10 at 730. At the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium area, PM 2.5 was at 411 and PM 10 at 508. AQI at Punjabi Bagh Delhi was recorded poor, PM 2.5 was at 616 while the PM 10 was at 908. This is a fourth time this season that the air quality here has worsened to severe category. The first time it dipped to the severe category this year was just two days before Diwali.

Delhi recorded 3.7 degrees Celsius early morning today; Visuals from Rajpath and New Delhi railway station pic.twitter.com/zWReY00G8r

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2018

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On Saturday, the overall air quality index (AQI) of the city stood at 408, which falls in the ‘severe’ category, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. In Delhi, the overall PM2.5 level – fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometre – was recorded at 290 and the PM10 level at 458, the CPCB said.

Unfavourable weather conditions and prevalence of a thick smog cover are further worsening the conditions and preventing dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.

On Friday, Minister of State for the Environment Ministry Mahesh Sharma, said that the number of days when pollution level was ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’ or ‘moderate’ in the city this year - up to December 16 - was 159 as compared to 151 last year during the corresponding period.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that greater usage of public transport facilities will be a "major step" towards curbing air pollution. Addressing a stakeholders' consultation on Tuesday on the proposed draft electric vehicles policy for Delhi, Kejriwal also reiterated his government has the "political will" to take "tough decisions" to cut down pollution. 

Last week, the Central Pollution Control Board slapped a fine of Rs 1 crore each on three oil companies for their failure to install anti-pollution "vapour recovery" systems at fuel stations. The fine was slapped on public sector oil firms Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

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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. 

An AQI between 100 to 200 comes under ‘moderate’ category, 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ while between 401 and 500 ‘severe’. The overall PM2.5 (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometre) level was recorded at 143 and the PM10 (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometre) level at 253, according to SAFAR.