Nearly three months have passed since the toxic air covered the entire Del-NCR region, and the levels of air quality remain alarmingly high, with no relief in sight, despite the efforts of the government of the national capital to control the pollution.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been oscillating between ‘severe’ and ‘severe plus’ categories.
The overall AQI at 5 am on Wednesday, December 24, was 366. Some of the highly polluted areas in the national capital reported an AQI of more than 400, thus falling under the ‘severe’ category. It is extremely alarming to note that the industrial and highly trafficked regions have seen pollutants consistently at higher levels.
Levels in Delhi on key sites
Official statistics show that the following regions experienced poor air quality:
DTU - 367
Dwarka Sector 8- 384
IGI Airport - 302
Dilshad Garden - 356
ITO - 392
Jahangirpuri - 391
Mundka - 396
Nehru Nagar - 419
Okhla Phase 2 - 402
Pusa- 404
Role of government in pollution control measures
The Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav, said that in response to growing air pollution levels in Delhi NCR, the government is implementing a comprehensive plan. These policies pertain to emissions, dust, technology, and enhanced regulation.
He mentioned the increase in PNG supply to major industrial zones, the use of cleaner techniques in thermal power stations, the implementation of BS-VI fuel standards, and industrial emission monitoring through real-time devices.
Fog and smog conditions impact flights
The adverse weather in the city has been further aggravated by poor levels of pollution. Along with this, dense fog has been a further factor in disrupting the journey of commuters. There are reported cases of the cancellation of several flights because of poor weather.
Taking into consideration the situation, the Delhi Airport has come up with an advisory for the passengers planning to travel, advising them to stay updated regarding the flights. "While landings and takeoffs are continuing at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may experience delays or disruptions. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused," they posted on X.
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Delhi weather forecast for the week
The winter weather is also likely to intensify, with fog all week. People woke up to a temperature of 9 degrees on Tuesday, which is predicted to go to 19-20 degrees.
December 24-25: Moderate fog expected in early morning hours, high humidity, and temperatures will be around 19°C.
December 26: Dense fog is expected in the morning and forenoon, which may reduce visibility significantly.
27th-29th of December: We can expect moderate fog, with normal temperatures of about 20°C, accompanied by high humidity.
There are high moisture levels in addition to low wind speeds that are anticipated to maintain a foggy regime, especially in the early morning.
