With no respite from the toxic smog situation, Delhiites on Tuesday woke up to another wintry morning with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in the upper range of the ‘very poor’ category, making it troublesome for people to breathe easy.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, national capital’s AQI level at around 9 am was 389, falling under the ‘very poor’ category, while several places, including Anand Vihar, Ashok VIhar, Chandni Chowk, Jahangipuri, Nehru Nagar, NOrth Campus, Rohini, and Wazirpur recording AQI levels above 400, falling under the ‘severe’ category.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the AQI is likely to remain in the very poor category on Tuesday and Wednesday, while it may worsen and slip into ‘severe’ zone on Thursday.
On Monday, the average AQI was recorded under the ‘severe’ category with an index value of 401, based on the observations from 38, out of the total 40 air monitoring stations across the city.
A man who had put on a mask, and was on his way to office near the Cannaught Place area told UNI that there was not much improvement in the AQI levels, and amid the dip in temperatures, the situation has become even difficult.
He shared that wearing a mask has become a part of his daily life, whenever he is out from home, or is even stepping out from his office for any work.
Meanwhile, stage- III curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan of the Commission for Air Quality Management remain into effect across the Delhi- NCR region.
The authorities and the agencies concerned are keeping a strict stance and concentrating their efforts towards dust mitigation and other pollution prevention measures as defined in the GRAP’s stage- III measures.
GRAP- 4 was revoked on December 24, after the sub sommittee had witnessed some improvement in the AQI levels.
