Delhi’s AQI in “very poor” category despite increased wind speed

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category on Sunday, November 1, with the average air quality index (AQI) of 354 recorded in 24 hours, according to the data from 35 monitoring stations. The numbers from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that nearby areas of Noida, greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad also recorded almost the same AQI of 384, 388,384 and 354 respectively. However, the AQI of Gurugram was slighty better with the value of 306.

System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a government-run monitoring agency, said in its forecast that Delhi’s AQI didn’t improve despite improved wind conditions, as per forecast. The agency added that this happened due to high stubble-related interference and effects of the onset of winters. In its bulletin, the agency informed that the share of stubble-burning in PM2.5 concentrations in Delhi has increased to 40 per cent, the highest in the season.

Safar examined the stubble fire counts over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and neighboring areas impacting the air of Delhi, and recorded the value of 3,216.