Riding on faster winds, air quality improves

NEW DELHI: The air quality of Delhi remained "very poor" but the CPCB officials predicted an improvement from the next week.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noted the air quality index at 336 whereas on Thursday it was 365.

"The air quality of Delhi is likely to change from the next week as the wind speed has increased significantly and the sky will also be clear," said a senior official of the CPCB.

Earlier, Dipankar Saha, air lab chief of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), had attributed the rise in pollution levels in Delhi to the influx of moisture due to the change in wind movement to south-westerly and fall in speed of local winds.

The presence of strong local winds helps in flushing out particulates while the presence of moisture traps pollutants near the surface.

It was also a pleasant morning in the national capital with the minimum temperature remaining normal.

"The minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year," a MeT department official said.

Humidity was recorded at 72 per cent as the weatherman has predicted a clear day ahead.

"The skies will remain clear through the day and the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 26 degrees Celsius," the official said.

According to CPCB, this weather condition will play the main role in keeping the air quality better than the last few days.

"As the wind speed increased, it flushed out pollutants and moisture. With a clear sky and the sun shining brightly, the mixing height increased, allowing the pollutants to disperse faster," said an official of CPCB.

Now, south-westerly winds have started blowing over the region. These winds are light in nature.

"Thus, Delhi Pollution is expected to witness an increase very soon. Moisture levels will also witness an increase resulting in high humidity levels," he further added.

The officials also asserted that the crop burning in the neighbourhood states is also coming down which is helping the air quality of the Capital.

"We think that the crop burning will be stopped by the first week of December and then the air will be cleared," said the official.

However, the CPCB officials have directed the state environment department that all the necessary arrangements to combat emergency situation should be ready.

"The environment department and the DPCC are continuously monitoring the air quality and we are also in touch with all the agencies to combat any emergency situation," said a Delhi government official.