Delhi's air quality improves but still in 'severe' category

Despite every possible attempt by the Arvind Kejriwal government, Delhi's air quality remained in 'severe' category for the second consecutive day with a thick haze engulfing the national capital region on Friday morning.

However, there was a 'slow' but 'significant' improvement in the city's air quality following the ban on entry of heavy and medium goods vehicle till November 11 to check the raising pollution post Diwali festivities. The recovery was  slow for low surface wind speed.

As per the data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall air quality index (AQI) on Friday recorded at 453 which falls in the 'severe' category.

In particular, twenty-six areas in Delhi recorded "severe" air quality, while seven areas including ITO, Mayur Vihar, Dilshad Garden, Shalimar Bagh and Taimur Nagar registered "very poor" air quality on Friday.

Read | Delhi Pollution: NDMC sprinkles water on roads as air quality falls to severe

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". AQI above 500 falls in the "severe-plus emergency" category.

However, the air quality in Delhi is expected to remain in the severe category till Saturday, Government-run agency SAFAR said, attributing it to the intensified stubble burning in neighbouring states.

Even the Supreme Court ban on fireworks had been flouted on the occasion of Diwali with Delhiites bursting firecrackers till late night, leading to the formation of a smoky layer and low visibility across Delhi-NCR.

Read | Delhi police registers over 550 cases and arrest more than 300 on Diwali night for violating SC order

Apart from the ban on the entry of trucks into the national capital between Thursday to Sunday, the transport department, as an emergency measure, has also appealed to private diesel vehicle owners to avoid using their vehicles during the period.