New Delhi | Jagran News Delhi: The national capital on Saturday saw a dip in pollution levels even as the air quality in the city remained in the 'severe' category. The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi at 8.40 am on Saturday stood at 412 against an AQI of 467 at 10 am on Friday. The AQI in Faridabad was 427, Ghaziabad 424, Greater Noida 377, Noida 411 and Gurgaon 420.
“The overall Delhi AQI shot up very fast towards the higher side of Severe category mainly due to secondary particulate formation after Delhi experience slight drizzle which is always lethal as also happened in the first week of November. Although PM 2.5 is recovering during the daylight, Western Disturbance induced cloudy conditions prevailing over entire northwest India may bring some isolated drizzle in Delhi to offset the day gain,” the SAFAR said in a statement.
Delhi: Major pollutants PM 2.5 & PM 10, both at 500 (severe category), in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. pic.twitter.com/SWYXKnjdIl
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2019
“Drizzling delayed the recovery and hence, improvement to the very poor category is now expected only by November 17,” it added.
This comes a day after the odd-even scheme in Delhi ended on Friday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, has said that the government will take a decision on extending the Odd-Even vehicle scheme on November 18.
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“As per weather forecast, air quality in Delhi to improve in the next 2-3 days. If the air quality doesn't improve, we will take a decision on extending Odd-Even vehicle scheme on November 18,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
However, the Supreme Court on Friday said that the traffic rationing cannot be the solution to control air pollution in the national capital, especially when Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) says that cars constitute 3 per cent of pollution levels adding that garbage dumping, construction wastes and road dusts are also major contributors to the pollution levels.
Smog cover continues over Delhi. Wazirpur at 437 and Mundka at 458, both in 'severe' category on air quality index. #DelhiAirQuality pic.twitter.com/QCLCa6x832
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2019
It also asked the Delhi government to tell whether there has been any relief from air pollution from Odd-Even scheme.
“Delhi is suffering badly, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is almost 600 even today. How do people breathe?,” the top court said.
The apex court also directed the central government Central government to install air purifying towers across Delhi to deal with pollution crisis.
The court also told the centre to allocate funds to operationalise this air purification technology. It insisted on using this technology at pollution hotspots in Delhi.
“Use technology in hotspots, go for trials...it is something necessary, you have to succeed, make the roadmap and give it to us..Let decision on the matter be taken,” it said.