Delhi Air Turns More Toxic, AQI Touches 391
The Delhi government is planning to change the timings of all government offices to counter the alarming rise in pollution levels in the national capital.
Arvind Kejriwal government is closely monitoring the air quality of Delhi-NCR regions and the sudden concentration of PM2.5 particles in the city sky has made senior officials look at all damage control options.
Dust and smog continued to blanket Delhi and its nearby regions on Thursday, as air quality index (AQI) in several areas fell to the ‘very poor’ category. In Connaught Place’s Inner Circle, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 391 and major pollutant Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) was at an alarming 270.86.
In its advisory, the Center-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) advised people of the sensitive category to avoid morning walks and outdoor activities.
Meanwhile, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday rubbished reports from various monitoring agencies that indicate burning of stubble, or agricultural waste, in neighbouring states is responsible for just 10 per cent of the air pollution in the capital.
The Air Quality Index at Dwarka in the capital was 209 around 4pm on Wednesday.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘s
