Odd-even 4.0 hinges on pollution report

| | NEW DELHI
  • 0

Odd-even 4.0 hinges on pollution report

Saturday, 16 November 2019 | Sapna Singh | NEW DELHI

Odd-even 4.0 hinges on pollution report

Call on Mon likely, Delhi in emergency-like situation

As Delhi faced emergency situation second time in the season due to severe plus Air Quality Index (AQI) with value 540 on the National Ambient Air quality Index (NAAQI) on Friday, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said a final call on extending the odd-even scheme will be taken on Monday as the air quality is expected to improve in next two-three days.

The road-rationing scheme, rolled out on November 4, ended on Friday.  “We do not want people to face unnecessary inconvenience. The residents cooperated very much in implementation of the scheme. There were 250-300 challans every day, which are very less considering the population. Air quality is predicted to improve over the next two-three day. A final call on extending the odd-even scheme will be taken on Monday,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

The Central Pollution control Board (CPCB) has said the vehicle rationing scheme will not help in improving Delhi’s air more than four per cent.

Forecasting on the air quality for next three days, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said the air quality in Delhi may improve on November 17.

If air quality data of monitoring agencies are to be believed there is no significant improvement recorded in previous week as levels of harmful Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) were recorded above 500 for Particulate Matter (PM) 10 and 300 plus for PM 2.5.

On Friday also, values of both were recorded 582 and 390 as a thick layer of toxic smog enveloped Delhi for the fourth consecutive day.

All monitoring agencies recorded an AQI above 500 in Delhi on Friday. Neighbouring Faridabad (450), Ghaziabad (475), Greater Noida (445), Gurgaon (461) and Noida (474) too continued to reel under severe air quality.

Air quality at different places in Delhi also recorded hazardous level. Dwarka Sector 8 and Okhla phase-II were on top with overall AQI 558 and 688 respectively. Mundka, Punjbai Bagh, Anand Vihar and RK Puram recorded AQI above 400.

Air quality in Patparganj also breached severe category with value 475 recorded at Real Time Ambient air quality index of Delhi pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Capital’s Mandir Marg  recorded AQI 650.

Najafgarh, Narela and a few outer areas faced noxious air with AQI above 500.  Levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were nearly eight times higher than normal at several locations. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered “poor”, 301-400 “very poor” and 401-500 “severe”.

According SAFAR, drizzle on Thursday night proved counter-productive and led to formation of secondary particles — a situation Delhi witnessed in the first week of November. 

The situation may worsen due to a drizzle on Friday night, it said.

A cloud cover and slow wind speed due to a western disturbance have been unconducive for dispersion of pollutants, experts said.

Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR, said though the impact of stubble burning is expected to reduce on November 16, high humidity due to isolated light rains may worsen the situation.

“Drizzle (last night) delayed the recovery and hence, improvement in ar quality is now expected only by November 17,” the SAFAR said.

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda