Delhi's air quality index remained in the very poor category at 329 on Wednesday, maintaining the improvement from the severe air that choked and blinded the capital for three days. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI at 7 am at all monitoring stations across Delhi was below the severe range, with some areas recording in the poor zone.
Stronger winds and thinning fog helped push pollution levels out of the severe category on Tuesday. The 24-hour AQI settled at 354. According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
The dense smog that brought the capital to a standstill over the past three days, blanketing roads, massively impacting flight and transport services, and leading to several road accidents, cleared significantly on Wednesday morning. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate fog for the day in Delhi and its adjoining regions, with the maximum and minimum temperatures settling at 24 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Delhi is yet to experience a cold wave this season and its iconic winters have been amiss. The fog that shrouded the city and the National Capital Region (NCR) was primarily due to hazardous air. The capital is currently under Grap IV, the strictest pollution curbs, as a result of deteriorating air quality levels. Additionally, on Tuesday, the Delhi government announced even stricter restrictions, including denial of fuels to vehicles lacking the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and banning entry of non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI norms.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also offered a half-apology, stressing that no government can eradicate pollution from the capital within nine to 10 months.
Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted no change in the minimum temperature in northwest India over the next three days before a gradual rise between 2 and 4 degrees Celsius thereafter during the subsequent four days.
