Delhi’s pollution history that normally registered a spike in the pollution level post October, has shown a different trend this year as the air  quality has been recorded in ‘moderate’ air category in mid-September, which was tagged as ‘satisfactory’ in term of air quality in the corresponding period.

The pollution forecast and measuring agencies such as; Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), have observed air quality levels at moderate values on Tuesday, this further means that values of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) recorded marginally higher than its prescribed standards.

Importantly, the sudden change in values of Sox, Nox, Ozone, Benzene - secondary pollutants and Particulate Matters (PM) 10, 2.5 from satisfactory level to moderate have bent opinions of Delhi residents of pleasant month tag for September and early days of October.

Meanwhile, on SAFAR index, the value of PM 10 was recorded at 119 µgm-3 in opposition to its prescribed limit which is 100 µgm-3 of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and 70µgm-3 of World Health Organization (WHO) and PM 2.5 was recorded at 63µgm-3 against its limit 60 (IMD) and 20 (WHO).

Citing weather reasons, SAFAR mentioned that low surface wind speed, unfavorable westerly winds, and high Relative Humidity (RH) and moderate local temperature were the reasons.

In its Air Quality bulletin for Delhi - NCR, CPCB also said that air quality remained moderate till Wednesday and slight improvement is expected.

Meanwhile, as per the previous years’ data of September months, the prominent pollutants - PM 10 and PM 2.5 were always recorded between 20 - 100 Micro gram per cubic. However, SAFAR’s forecast for Wednesday says air quality will be in  moderate category.