Very Poor' Is Delhi's Best Show In 7 Days

After six consecutive “severe” days, Delhi’s air quality improved on Wednesday, entering the “very poor” category.

- Priyangi Agarwal

New Delhi: The overall air quality index (AQI) was 344 against 476 on Tuesday, according to Central Pollution Control Bureau.

The change in wind direction and increase in wind speed impacted the air quality.

As the average PM10 and PM2.5 levels improved from Tuesday’s “emergency” range of Graded Response Action Plan — above 500 and 300 micrograms per cubic metre for over 48 hours — the new Commission for Air Quality didn’t reimpose emergency measures.

But CPCB issued measures, including closure of hot mix plants and stone crushers till November 17 in Delhi-NCR, increase in frequency of mechanised cleaning of roads and sprinkling of water, implementation of ban on firecrackers and enforcement of guidelines for dust mitigation at construction sites. CPCB also asked Punjab and Haryana to take strict action to curb stubble burning and directed DelhiNCR to check biomass burning.

CPCB’s central control room data showed that the average 24-hour PM10 and PM2.5 concentration started falling in Delhi-NCR from the Tuesday midnight. The 24-hour PM10 average was 336.3 micrograms per cubic metre at 6pm on Wednesday while PM2.5 was 174.4. The standard for PM2.5 and PM10 are 60 and 100 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively.