Delhi Air Quality Slips To 'Severe' Category Days After Removal Of Construction Ban

Days after the Supreme Court lifted the day-time construction ban, the air quality in the national capital on Wednesday entered the "severe" category, breaching the "very poor" level of the past seven days. At 8.41 am, the air quality index (AQI) in the city bordered "severe" levels at 399, by 10.40 am, it entered the severe category and was recorded at 402.

The AQI in neighbouring areas -- Faridabad (392) and Gurgaon (366) -- was recorded in the very poor category. The AQI in Ghaziabad (436), Greater Noida (441) and Noida (425) was in the severe category.

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

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court had partially lifted its ban on construction activities in the Delhi-NCR region, allowing them between 6 AM and 6 PM, after the Central Pollution Control Board said that air quality index (AQI) level is not severe at present. 

The top court, which had on November 4 stopped construction and demolition in Delhi-national capital region (NCR), perused the affidavit filed by CPCB which said however that no construction should be permitted during 6 PM to 6 AM. With the AQI again reaching a severe level, it is yet to be seen if the Supreme Court again imposes a ban on construction activities in Delhi-NCR during the day time.