• Source:JND
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Delhi-NCR Air Pollution:  Despite early morning showers in Delhi and adjoining areas, the national capital's overall air quality remained in the 'severe' category on Friday morning, per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The rain did change the weather and turned it more chilly, also some places in the city which received a significant amount of rain saw a slight improvement in air quality.

The National capital received rains when the Delhi government is mulling over artificial rains on November 20-21 through cloud seeding to tackle the severe air pollution.

According to the data issued by the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), AQI in Ashok Vihar was recorded at 462 (severe). At the same time, in the RK Puram area, the AQI stood at 461 (severe category). The air quality in Punjab Bagh was recorded at 460 (severe), while ITO stands at 464 (severe category).

Gurugram recorded an AQI of 416, keeping the air quality under the 'severe' category, while Faridabad and Noida recorded 457 (severe) and 375 (very poor), respectively.

Rains Clears Haze From Some Places

On the other hand, the city witnessed a marginal improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 391 (very poor) while at Lodhi Road stands at 398 (very poor). The slight improvement in AQI at some places was recorded after moderate rainfall lashed the city in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Artificial Rains To Cost Rs 13 Crore

Meanwhile, the Delhi government is making efforts to execute anti-pollution measures, and it is also considering the idea of 'artificial rain' to curtail the pollution issue. Several ministers of the Aam Admi Party were also seen on the ground on Thursday night inspecting the execution of anti-pollution initiatives. Reportedly, the artificial rains project will be done in two phases and will cost around Rs 13 crore to state government.

GRAP In Action

Currently, Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in the national capital after the city's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category. Earlier this week, the government rescheduled the December winter break of all schools. The winter break in the schools will now be from November 9 to November 18.

Also, the entry of app-based taxis into the national capital has been banned by the Supreme Court's orders. The odd-even car-rationing scheme will be implemented in the city after the top court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi-NCR, the region is likely to experience "very poor" to "severe" air quality for another five to six days.