• Source:JND

Delhi Air Pollution: A thick blanket of haze enveloped Delhi on Thursday, December 18, reducing visibility across the city as air pollution in the National capital worsened. According to the official data, cited by PTI, the 24-hour average air quality across Delhi hovered in the ‘very poor’ category with the AQI reading going up to 373, a notch up from 334, a day earlier. 

Out of the total 40 air quality monitoring stations in the city, 15 recorded ‘severe’ air quality, with Anand Vihar recording the highest reading at 441, which falls in the ‘severe-plus’ category. The remaining 24 stations recorded air quality in ‘very poor’ level according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) SAMEER app.  

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On Tuesday morning, pollution levels were recorded at a dangerously high mark of 358 on the air quality scale, as reported by the national pollution monitoring authority. Air quality readings are categorised on a scale ranging from clean conditions at the lowest end to hazardous conditions at the highest, with progressively worsening bands in between.

Meanwhile, data from the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management indicated that vehicular emissions continued to be the biggest source of pollution in Delhi, contributing 18.3 per cent to the overall load.

Furthermore, industries from Delhi and the nearby areas contribute to nearly 9.2 per cent of the total pollution, followed by residential areas at 4.5 per cent and construction activities at 2.5 per cent. Next comes waste burning with 1.6 per cent share, road dust (1.3 per cent), other sectors (1.2 per cent), and power generation in Delhi, which contributes to about 1.2 per cent. 

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NCR Regions Also Contribute To Pollution

Besides Delhi, the neighbouring NCR districts also add significantly to the pollution load, with Jhajjar contributing (12.3 per cent), Sonipat (8.8 per cent), Rohtak (4.8 per cent), Jind (3.1 per cent), Bhiwani (1.4 per cent) and Gurugram (1.1 per cent). 

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category on Friday and Saturday, and may deteriorate further to 'severe' on Sunday.

(With inputs from PTI)


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