Delhi breaths easy as favourable weather reduces pollution levels

Delhiites bread easy on Saturday as pollution levels in national capital reduced significantly owing to gusty winds and rainfall in neighbouring areas. overall air quality index (AQI) fluctuated between 128 and 157, which falls in moderate category, according to Central Pollution Control Board's data.

Barring Dwarka Sector 8, where air quality remained "poor" (238), most of areas in city recorded an AQI in "moderate" category. 

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Kuldeep Srivastava, a senior scientist at India Meteorological Department, said winds gusting up to 88 kilometers per hour barrelled through Delhi and neighbouring areas on October 18 evening, resulting in significant reduction in concentration of pollutants.

Also, rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, and nearby areas due to a western disturbance reduced effect of stubble burning on city's air quality, he said.

"Winds clocking 20-25 kilometers per hour will continue to blow in Delhi for next two to three days, which is favourable for air quality. But, direction will completely change to rthwesterly October 21 onwards," Srivastava said.

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Westerly and rthwesterly winds bring dust from western regions and smoke caused by burning of crop residue in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana to Delhi-NCR.

Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast and research service, SAFAR, said, "At onset of westerly disturbances, sometime unexpected showers occur which wash away pollutants and provide respite for a short period but western disturbance withdrawal in two to three days will bring cold moisture and deteriorate air quality."

intensity of stubble burning in Haryana, Punjab, and nearby border regions is almost same as past three days but "due to change in circulation pattern and wet transport path, its influence in Delhi is negligible", System of Air Quality and Wear Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.

By October 21, a change in wind direction to rthwesterly, moist condition and considerable biomass plume transport is expected. Quick deterioration of air quality to 'poor' and n to 'very poor' category is likely by October 22, it said.

SAFAR data showed share of smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring states on Delhi's PM2.5 concentration was nil on Saturday. It will increase to five per cent on October 20 and to 15 per cent on October 21.

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According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, more than 3,000 stubble burning incidents have occurred in Punjab and Haryana since harvesting of pdy crop started around September 25. During corresponding period last year, count was around 2,600.

Meanwhile, Delhi cabinet on Saturday cleared a proposal to carry out a mass awareness campaign on pollution and pollution-control measures.

cabinet has approved an expenditure of Rs 36 crore from budget of Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) towards awareness campaigns.

"While re has been a 25 per cent reduction in pollution in Delhi, winter months see a major spike in pollution levels. One of major reasons for this is stubble burning in neighbouring states, over which Delhi government has control."

"refore, only option available to people of Delhi is emergency measures to severely cut down on any sources of pollution emanating from Delhi, as well as to find mechanisms by which people can cope with rising pollution levels," a government statement said.

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