Already 'severe', Delhi's air quality likely to be in 'emergency' zone

xious haze returned to Delhi and its suburbs on Tuesday with raging stubble fires in neighbouring states, fall in temperature and wind speed pushing city's air quality in "severe" zone. government's air quality monitor, System of Air Quality and Wear Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said pollution levels in Delhi-NCR are expected to enter "severe plus" or "emergency" category on Wednesday. Mhavan Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, tweeted, "Forecast (green) suggests air quality in severe+ category by v 14 (sic)."

RE: Air quality sinks to ‘severe’ in haze-shrouded New Delhi

Meteorologists said national capital recorded on Tuesday morning a minimum temperature of 11.7 degrees Celsius, season's lowest so far. It is two tches below rmal for this time of year. A dip in wind speed and temperature makes air cold and denser, leing to accumulation of pollutants, said Kuldeep Srivastava, he of India Meteorological Department's regional wear forecasting centre.

Central Pollution Control Bureau air quality index

According to Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB), Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) re 425 at 4 pm and 437 at 9 pm on Tuesday. It was 360 at 4 pm on Monday. levels of PM 2.5 -- tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter that can enter deep into lungs and even bloodstream -- shot up to 337 micrograms per cubic metre, breaching its emergency threshold of 300, by 9pm in Delhi-NCR.  In case of PM2.5, safe level is 0-60 micrograms per cubic metre.  levels of PM10 increased to 484 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly five times safe limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre. Most of 37 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded air quality in severe category.

RE: Delhi: Air Quality remains 'severe' as heavy smog looms capital

spike in pollution came on a day Delhi government lifted restrictions under its odd-even ro rationing scheme in view of 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. Many people also reported violation of EPCA-imposed ban on firecrackers in winters from several parts of city. Wazirpur was most-polluted areas in city with an AQI of 465, followed by Bawana (464), Rohini (454), Mundka (458) and Anand Vihar (458). Faridab (413), Gurgaon (415), Ghaziab (461), Greater ida (444), and ida (453) also choked on extremely polluted air. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in 'severe plus' category.

RE: Ghaziab: Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches 'severe' category

Experts said spike in pollution levels can be attributed to a significant decline in wind speed. Incidents of stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab have increased and rthwesterly winds have been bringing more farm fire plumes to Delhi-NCR region, y said. According to SAFAR, share of stubble-burning accounted for 25 per cent of Delhi's pollution on Tuesday, up from 18 per cent on Monday. " sudden recovery is expected at least for next two days and AQI is likely to deteriorate furr towards severe-plus category by tomorrow. condition may slightly improve by vember 15," it said in a report. For around a week after Diwali, a pungent smog lingered over Delhi-NCR as a result of emissions from firecrackers, stubble burning and unfavourable wear.

RE: Delhi's air quality 'very poor', drastic decline unlikely till Tuesday

What has happened so far regarding air quality?

As air pollution neared emergency level on vember 1, a Supreme Court-mandated panel declared a public health emergency and ministration ordered closure of schools till vember 5. Last week, apex court h pulled up Centre and state governments for ir inability to curb stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana and bring air pollution in Delhi under control. It h asked governments if y feel ashamed that people are longer safe even in ir houses. top court h also ordered that all farmers be given a Rs 100 per quintal incentive to prevent m from setting ir fields on fire in preparation for next crop, and provide m free machines to get rid of agriculture residue. period between October 15 and vember 15 is considered critical as a maximum number of stubble-burning incidents take place in this span in Punjab and joining states, which is one of main reasons for alarming spike in pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Despite a ban on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, farmers continue to defy it amid lack of financial incentives. State governments are providing 50 to 80 per cent subsidy to farmers and cooperative societies to buy modern farm equipment for in-situ manment of pdy straw, but farmers say use of machines increases input cost manifold. According to an affidavit filed by Centre in Supreme Court, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Presh distributed around 63,000 machines to farmers during 2018-19. In 2019-20, as many as 46,000 machines have been distributed. Delhi Environment Minister h on Monday said, "re are around 27 lakh farmers in Punjab alone. If same speed continues, it will take ar 60 years for machines to reach every farmer...It seems stubble burning will continue at same pace next year too."