Delhi’s air to turn more toxic on Tuesday as Air Quality Index hits 367

Air quality index worsened on Monday, October 29, when the levels of particulate matter, or pollutants that are hazardous for health, went by up to four times above the permissible mark after a gap of almost four months.

As the burning of stubble, being considered one of the reasons behind the rise in pollution, continues in Punjab and Haryana. The conditions could deteriorate further on Tuesday, October 29, according to an early warning system run by Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and SAFAR. Both IITM and SAFAR functions under the ministry of earth sciences.

Delhi’s AQI on October 29, was 367, which indicates ‘very poor’ air quality. On a scale of 0-500, AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’.

“This is the sixth consecutive day that the air quality has remained in the very poor category,” said an official of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Conditions in Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad were not any better, with the air quality in Ghaziabad nearing the ‘severe’ level. The AQI was 430 in Ghaziabad.

The official said levels of PM10 and PM2.5, too, shot up alarmingly, hovering around four times the permissible limits. Such high levels of particulate matter were last encountered in the second week of June when a huge amount of dust surged into Delhi-NCR after a dust storm in Rajasthan. PM 2.5 and PM10 pollutants are particulate matters that have a diameter of less than 2.5 and 10 micrometers, respectively.

Early warning system of Delhi has said that northwesterly winds have already started blowing. Also, the ventilation index, which tells how fast pollutants get dispersed, and wind speeds are expected to remain low over next two days. This might help trap pollutants in the air.

SAFAR has forecast toxic fumes from regions burning stubble of Punjab and Haryana would surge in, which will worsen the situation.

Amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi, authorities have asked 113 industries to shut for not converting to Piped Natural Gas (PNG), an official statement said Monday.

Of the 113 units, 67 are located in Bawana and Narela industrial areas, it said. Delhi's air continued to remain in the "very poor" category on Monday with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 348.

In a meeting chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal here, officials told the LG that 1,368 show cause notices and 417 closure directions have been issued against polluting units by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

The meeting was attended by Environment Minister Imran Hussain, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) chairman Bhure Lal and other senior officials.

"It was further informed that closure directions have been issued to 113 industries which have not converted to PNG," the LG office said in a statement.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed stubble burning in neighbouring states for the deteriorating air quality.

“Pollution was under control throughout the year. But during this time of the year Delhi has to put up with suffocating pollution because of the BJP and Congress governments at the centre, Haryana and Punjab...,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan said, “I would request Kejriwal not to politicise the issue.”

With PTI inputs.