Pollution level improves but AQI remains 'severe'

New Delhi: Air Quality in the national Capital improved a little, however the quality remained 'severe' on Monday. After a week of suffocating environment and thick smog that enveloped Delhi, Monday morning saw clearer sorroundings.

Areas like Anand Vihar (428), Bawana (428), Sirifort (410), Sri Aurobindo Marg (402), Mundka (412) remained in severe category.

Central government based agency System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) called the current situation "unique" adding, "In cloudy days like yesterday, in the absence of sufficient solar radiation, the mixed layer continued to be very low even during the daytime, arresting pollutants firmly. It is a unique condition because such a process is characteristic of the colder foggy period of Dec-Jan."

According to SAFAR, the cases of stubble burning also stood at 2,900 on Sunday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been persistent that stubble burning is a major cause of increasing air pollution in Delhi. He has asked Centre, Haryana and Punjab government to take concrete steps to bring down air pollution. Meanwhile, with sun rays finally out, SAFAR said, there will be an improvement in the air quality due this factor. "High surface and boundary layer wind are expected for Tuesday, will improve air quality to very poor level by Tuesday morning," forecasted the environment agency.

It added that fresh scattered rainfall and change in wind direction in North India, is expecting by November 8 in Delhi region, which is likely to positively influence the AQI.

The Delhi government had on Friday directed closure of schools till November 5 and banned construction activities after the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority declared a public health emergency as air quality plummeted.