Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates Amid Diwali Celebrations

New Delhi, Oct 20 (PTI) - The air quality in Delhi significantly deteriorated on Monday, coinciding with the Diwali celebrations, as pollution levels at 31 out of the 38 monitoring stations reached the 'very poor' category, with three stations recording 'severe' pollution levels.

According to the SAMEER app developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 334 at noon, slightly improving from 339 recorded at 9 am.

Thirty-one monitoring stations showed air quality in the 'very poor' range with AQI levels surpassing 300. Meanwhile, the stations at Anand Vihar (AQI 402), Wazirpur (AQI 423), and Ashok Vihar (AQI 414) reported air quality in the 'severe' category.

The air quality is expected to further degrade into a more widespread 'severe' category on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

In light of the current situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has instituted Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the Delhi-NCR region.

This decision came after a review by the sub-committee on GRAP conducted on Saturday, along with forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

On October 15, the Supreme Court permitted the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between 6 am and 7 pm and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali day and the day prior.

Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 20.2 degrees Celsius at 8.30 am.

The IMD has forecasted fog and mist in the morning with mainly clear skies later in the day, while the maximum temperature is expected to reach 33 degrees Celsius.

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