Air pollution in Delhi drops from very poor to poor

Delhi's air quality improved due to favourable atmospheric conditions. AQI was 290 at 7am, 24-hr avg. AQI was 319. Neighbouring cities also recorded poor air quality. Centre removed stringent curbs due to dip in air pollution. Vehicular emissions accounted for 45% of pollution on Fri, 33% on Sat. Secondary inorganic aerosols 19-36% of air pollution.

Air quality in Delhi and its suburbs improved further on November 19 due to favourable atmospheric conditions, primarily wind direction and speed, monitoring agencies said.

The city's air quality index stood at 290 at 7 a.m. The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 p.m. every day, was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday and 419 on Thursday.

Neighbouring Ghaziabad (275), Gurugram (242), Greater Noida (232), Noida (252) and Faridabad (318) also recorded very poor air quality.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severe plus.

The Centre on Saturday removed stringent curbs, including a ban on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi, in view of the dip in air pollution levels.

These measures constitute the final stage, Stage IV, of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, asked Delhi and NCR states to revoke all emergency measures, under which only CNG, electric and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states are allowed to enter Delhi, with exemptions granted to those involved in essential services.