New Delhi: Cloudy skies kept the mercury in check in Delhi on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature settling at 34.4 degrees Celsius, six notches below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department. The Capital logged a minimum temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius.
A slight increase in temperature — up to 41 degrees Celsius — is predicted over the next three to four days but there is no forecast of a heatwave for another week, the IMD said. Delhi's 24-hour air quality index (AQI) was recorded in the 'moderate' category at 175 at 10 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
The city breathed its cleanest air in 134 days on Tuesday as the AQI stood at 89, in 'satisfactory' category.
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', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management has enhanced the plantation target for the NCR by 17.33 per cent. The panel has emphasised on large-scale greening, plantation and urban foresting initiatives, including the Miyawaki technique, for better utilisation of both small and large patches of land and considering the larger impact on biodiversity and urban ecology in the NCR, a statement said.