Dip in wind speed likely to turn Delhi-NCR's air quality severe again

national capital recorded its best air quality in 12 days as moderate winds continued to counter effect of stubble burning on Monday, officials said. However, wear experts said, pollution levels are likely to enter 'severe' zone again on Thursday due to a gradual dip in wind speed over next two-three days.

Overall Air Quality in Delhi at 214 

overall air quality index in Delhi stood at 214 at 4 pm, a tch below Sunday's AQI of 215. Jahangirpuri was most polluted area with an AQI of 311 and Ayanagar (98) least polluted, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.  Neighbouring Ghaziabad (256), Greater ida (218), ida (227) recorded ir air quality in 'poor' category, while Gurgaon's AQI (138) remained in 'moderate' category for second consecutive day.

Kuldeep Srivastava, a senior scientist at India Meteorological Department, said maximum wind speed dropped from 30 kilometres per hour on Sunday to 18 kilometres per hour on Monday. " wind speed is likely to reduce to 10-12 kmph on Tuesday and to 5-6 kmph on Wednesday," he said.

Delhi READ | CM attacks Centre, says will ensure property registration in unauthorised colonies

Air Quality expected to deteriorate

Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor SAFAR said AQI is predicted to deteriorate to lower end of 'very poor' category by Tuesday. probability of AQI touching lower end of 'severe' category on vember 21 is high, it said. "Ar factor is change in transport-level wind direction to rthwest (coming from Punjab and Haryana) and an increase in effective fire count to 610. "As transport-level winds are predicted to slow down to moderate level, favouring (farm fire plume) intrusion in Delhi, share of stubble burning is estimated to increase to 13 per cent in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Tuesday," it said.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court-mandated anti-pollution authority, EPCA, on Monday asked Delhi and NCR states to step up surveillance and enforcement to check local sources of pollution and crop burning in view of predicted dip in air quality. In a letter to chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority Chairman Bhure Lal said hot mix plants, ready mix plants, and stone crushers will continue to remain closed in Delhi-NCR.

Supreme Court had on vember 4 banned construction and demolition activities in region till furr tice. Due to slow wind speed and very little ventilation, dispersion of pollutants will t happen and re is a likelihood that air quality will slip back to 'very poor' category and even 'severe' category, EPCA chief said. situation will worsen if re's light rain, which would be inadequate to wash away pollutants and add to moisture instead, he said.

READ | Odd-Even: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stops implementation as 'skies are clear w'

READ | IPL 2020: Shreyas Iyer to continue leading Delhi Capitals for upcoming season