Delhi Chokes: Air Quality Deteriorates to Near 'Severe' Levels
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Delhi was shrouded in a thick haze on Thursday, reducing visibility and pushing the city's air quality to near 'severe' levels. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 399 at 8 am, a slight increase from yesterday's 392 and Tuesday's 374. The minimum temperature of 11.4°C was a degree below normal. The city's 39 ambient air quality monitoring stations showed that 20 of them recorded 'severe' air quality, with Wazirpur and Jahangirpuri being the worst-hit areas. The Central Pollution Control Board's AQI maxes out at 500. The Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) has forecast that the air quality will remain 'very poor' on Thursday and Friday and may deteriorate to 'severe' over the weekend. This is due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad recorded the worst air quality in the country on Wednesday, with an AQI of 422, followed by Greater Noida and Noida. Delhi was the fourth most polluted city in the country. In response to the winter pollution crisis, the Supreme Court has allowed major revisions to the Graded Response Action Plan. The changes will bring stricter measures into effect at earlier stages, with the aim of reducing air pollution. The court also asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in the Delhi-National Capital Region to postpone open-air sports competitions in November and December due to poor air quality. In compliance, the CAQM has written to the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to take immediate action.
