We will take less time to improve air quality: Prakash Javadekar

It took Beijing fifteen years to reduce air pollution but we will take less time to improve air quality in national capital, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in Lok Sabha on Friday. Responding to a discussion on "air pollution and climate change", he said a mass movement is required for purpose.

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Javadekar on air quality in NCR

"It took Beijing 15 years (to fight air pollution). We will take lesser time," he said, referring to air quality in Delhi. 

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AQI 'Very Poor in Delhi' 

air quality in Delhi-NCR remained "very poor" on Friday and is expected to improve slightly over next two days due to an increase in wind speed, officials said. Experts said pollution levels will dip slightly from "very poor" to "poor" in next 48 hours but will shoot up again vember 25 onwards.

overall air quality index in Delhi stood at 360 at 2 pm. Rohini was most-polluted area with an AQI of 416, followed by Bawana (411) and Anand Vihar (410). Mundka (401), Narela (401) and Vivek Vihar (402) also recorded ir air quality in "severe" category. AQI in neighbouring Ghaziabad (400), Greater ida (390) and ida (384) also bordered "severe" zone. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'.

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An expert at Skymet Wear, a private forecaster, said moderate winds from vember 23 would bring some relief but it will be temporary as ar western disturbance from vember 25 will again cause wind speed to dip.

"re are chances of good rain on vember 25 and 26. If that happens, pollutants will be washed away. Orwise, a long-term relief is expected only after vember 28," he said.

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Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research also said:

" air quality is forecast to improve to lower end of 'very poor' category on Saturday. Furr improvement to poor category is expected by Sunday."

Due to cloudy wear, satellites have been able to detect only 141 fires in Harayna and Punjab, it said. " transport-level winds are westerly which are t very favourable for plume intrusion. significant stubble impact is expected for next two days," it said.

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