NEW DELHI: Delhi's air quality continued to be in the "poor" category on Tuesday, a day after it had improved from "very poor" Air Quality Index (AQI) zone. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the city's overall AQI at 252 at 11 am. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
The air quality in the national Capital had shown signs of improvement on Monday as it moved from 'very poor' to 'poor' category, but experts said it could deteriorate in the coming days due to toxic air coming out of a fire at Bhalswa landfill site. The Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) also reported an AQI in the 'poor' category.
On Sunday, the AQI had oscillated between 'poor' and 'very poor' categories. On Saturday, a haze had engulfed the national capital and the worst air quality of this season was recorded at 324.
Anumita Roychowdhury of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Monday said, as winter approaches, toxic air emanating out of such landfill fires is likely to affect the air quality. "If the wind speed is lower and the temperature dips, the polluted air coming out of landfill fires will get trapped, which would severely affect the air quality," she said. The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) had last week held a meeting with officials of Punjab, Haryana and the Delhi governments to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday evening reviewed the preparedness and action plan of the various stakeholder departments for implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) mandated by Supreme Court of India for combatting and mitigating air pollution in Delhi. Environment Minister directed all officers and agencies to be in war mode to combat air pollution. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Commissioners of North, South and East MCDs, Chairman NDMC, Secretary (Environment), Secretary (Transport and Power), Special Secretary (Industries), Chief Engineer (PWD) along with other senior officers of the Departments/ Agencies concerned.
The three Municipal Corporations informed that mechanical sweeping of the roads including the PWD roads is going on regularly for preventing suspension and re-suspension of dust due to plying of vehicles. The three Municipal Corporations and New Delhi Municipal Council ( NDMC) were directed to ensure that no uncovered building material is permitted on their respective roads.