Delhi air quality slips to 'very poor' after Dussehra

Delhi's air quality on Thursday dipped to 'very poor' barely few days after staying in the 'poor' category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 337.

The AQI between 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 fall under the category of 'satisfactory', 101-200 is marked as 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 500 and beyond is considered as 'severe'.

SAFAR has predicted that for the next two days, the air quality will remain in the 'very poor' category.

Experts believe that the pollution level has exacerbated as farmers in the neibouring Punjab and Haryana are burning crop residue in preparation for new planting.

In an attempt to reduce the air pollution, the Supreme Court on Wednesday passed an order stating that no automobile manufacturer will be allowed to sell any BS-IV vehicles after March 31, 2020. Only vehicles that meet BS-VI emission standards can be sold from April 1, 2020.

According to the ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation), 2015, BS VI vehicles in India will significantly reduce both Nitrogen Oxide and PM in the air. In terms of PM, there will be a reduction of around 50 per cent from BS IV to BS VI emission standards. Similarly for Nitrogen Oxide, the reduction will be around 89 per cent from BS IV to BS VI.

In the city of seven islands, Mumbai, the air quality has shown slight improvement with PM 10 at 141 at 8:35 am.

For the next two days, the air quality will remain in the moderate category with PM10 at 147, SAFAR said.

Late last year also, the national capital and a large part of northern India were covered under a thick blanket of smog from crop burning and the countless firecrackers let off for Diwali, forcing the administration to shut down scores of power stations and clamping down of garbage burning.