Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov.13: A heavy layer of pollution blanketed Delhi and its environs as the air quality deteriorated to the ‘severe’ category on Saturday, with the overall AQI reading 499. For the unversed, an AQI of zero to 50 is regarded as ‘excellent,’ 51 to 100 as ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 as ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 as ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 as ‘very poor,’ and 401 to 500 as ‘severe.’
In particular, Delhi and other NCR cities such as Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and others have been subjected to severe and hazardous air pollution levels over the last week as a result of an increase in farm fires in Punjab and Haryana, which has been exacerbated by the still winds and rising fog levels. According to a study conducted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the national capital’s air quality is at its worst between November 1 and November 15.
According to the national pollution watchdog, people should avoid stepping outside. In addition, in light of severe air pollution, it instructed the government and private offices to limit automobile usage by at least 30%. It further said that the implementing agencies must closely monitor activities done at an appropriate level and provide a daily report to the pollution control boards and committees relevant, who would review and submit reports to the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the CPCB.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), due to low winds and calm weather during the night, meteorological conditions would be particularly unfavourable for pollution dispersion until November 18.
