Delhi air quality is likely to drop to ‘severe’ category on Diwali if…

Transport-level winds from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh towards Delhi will pick up from October 24 and, in all likelihood, will bring significant stubble-related emissions to Delhi, it informed. 

As per Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data, the city’s 24-hour average AQI was recorded in the ‘poor’ category at 265 On Saturday. 

“If stubble burning increases gradually, which is likely, its share in Delhi’s PM2.5 (based on the average temporal variability of fire counts in the previous years) is likely to be 5 per cent on the October 23, 8 per cent on October 24 and 16 to 18 per cent on October 25,” SAFAR’s predictions said.

“Adverse weather conditions may bring firecracker-related pollution from surrounding regions of Delhi (outside NCT) and with 15 to 18 per cent stubble burning contribution, the AQI is predicted to touch the upper end of ‘very poor’ to lower end of ‘severe’ on October 25 (without emission from firecrackers in Delhi),” the predictions said.

In fact, the emission from firecrackers, along with other factors is likely to worsen the situation and AQI would remain ‘severe’ on Diwali (October 23) and might continue to remain the same for the next two days (October 24 and October 25).

“Air quality might improve slightly on October 26 evening onwards to the lower end of ‘very poor’ category as surface winds will pick up on October 26 and stubble transport level winds will slow down,” the predictions said.

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.

Predicting the air quality to deteriorate by the weekend, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had on Wednesday directed authorities to enact Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the national capital and its vicinity, according to the severity of the situation.

The Stage II plan includes banning the use of coal and firewood in hotels, restaurants and open eateries. The use of diesel generators, except for essential services, is also banned.

(With input from agencies)