No relief from pollution, Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor'

Delhiites woke up to toxic air on Wednesday morning as the air quality continued to be in the very poor categoryWhile the Air Quality Index at 9 am dropped marginally to 356 four stations Bawana Mundka Wazirpur and NSIT Dwarka reported air quality in the severe category according to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCBFor the past two days Delhis AQI has been recorded at the higher end of the very poor range with a reading of 373 at 9 am on Monday and 384 on TuesdayAccording to AQI classifications a 050 range is considered good 51100 satisfactory 101200 moderate 201300 poor 301400 very poor and 401500 severeClear skies are expected over the city with smog during the day and mist at night according to the India Meteorological Department IMDMeanwhile the minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 171 degrees Celsius two notches warmer than usual The humidity level at 830 am stood at 98 per centAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB data the Air Quality Index AQI in Delhi was recorded at 358 as of 8 am todayAlipur recorded an AQI of 372 Bawana at 412 Dwarka Sector 8 at 355 Mundka at 419 Najafgarh at 354 New Moti Bagh at 381 Rohini at 401 Punjabi Bagh at 388 and RK Puram at 373 as per CPCBAll these areas reported very poor air quality levels posing significant health risksA thick toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj as the pollution level in the river remains highThe Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi government as to how the ban on bursting firecrackers in the national capital to curb air pollution was flouted during Diwali celebrationsA bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit on the steps taken to ensure that pollution is tackled and to enforce the firecracker ban in the cityThe bench observed that there are widespread reports in newspapers that the ban on firecrackers was not implemented and said it wanted the Delhi government to immediately respond why the firecracker ban was hardly implementedIt further directed the Delhi government and the Police Commissioner of Delhi to file affidavits highlighting what steps they propose to take so that this thing does not happen next yearDuring the hearing Additional Solicitor General ASG Archana Pathak Dave also told the bench that there was absolute noncompliance with firecracker restrictions during Diwali this year and added that there is a report suggesting a huge increase in air pollution on the day of Diwali with the pollution percentage rising from 10 per cent to 27 per centWith inputs from PTI and ANI