Diwali celebrations across the national capital have leftDelhi and Noida reeling under 'very poor' pollution levels as the overall airquality index stood at 306 and 356 in Delhi and Noida respectively. Extremelypoor pollution levels were previously predicted in Delhi due to firecrackeremissions, unfavourable weather and a significant spike in stubble burning inneighbouring states.
As Haryana too witnessed bursting of crackers on Diwali, itsAQI stood at 279 (poor) at NISE Gwal Pahari area in Gurugram.On Saturday, theSystem of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) hadpredicted that the air quality will get even worse in coming days and the AQIwas expected to be around 324 due to Diwali.
In the wake of the increased pollution, Delhi residents havecomplained of a spike in respiratory problems and allergies.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana makes the situation inDelhi worse. According to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), straw burninghas increased this year.
To curb air pollution, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government inDelhi has announced the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme from November 4to 15.
Meanwhile, authorities in some areas took to the sprinklingof water on the streets to bring down the level of air pollution.
According to the AQI data, recorded till 11 p.m., thepollution level at the National Malaria Institute, Dwarka was 763 with a highnumber of PM 10 (tiny particulate matter of diameter 10 microns or less).
At ITI Jahangirpuri, the pollution level was 407 followed bySrinivaspuri at 313, both in the poor category.
In Chanakyapuri area where the US embassy is located, theAQI was 189 at 8 p.m. and at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium it was 168.
Earlier during the day, the AQI was 313 at 9 a.m, 337 at 1p.m. On Saturday too, the air quality was in the very poor category.
The PM 10 (tiny particulate matter of diameter 10 micron orless) matter reached the high of 515 mcg at Anand Vihar as per the Delhi government'sair quality monitors.
In Wazirpur, the PM 2.5 matter crossed the 400-mark.Twenty-nine of the 37 air quality stations reported very poor AQI.
In 2018 Diwali, the AQI had crossed the 600-mark, 12 timesthe safe limit.
As per data, the AQI between 0 and 50 is considered safe,51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor. At 301-400, it'sconsidered very poor and 401-500 falls in the severe category.
The above 500 is severe as well as the emergency category.
Mid-October to November is considered critical days forDelhi's air quality due to stubble burning in neighbouring states and emissionsfrom firecrackers in Diwali.
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