00:00 The air quality index in Delhi showed a slight improvement on Wednesday morning and moved
00:09 to the moderate category.
00:12 The air quality index was recorded at 190 according to the system of air quality and
00:16 weather forecasting and research, i.e. SAFAR.
00:19 Yesterday the city's AQI was recorded in the poor category with AQI at 231.
00:26 Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the very poor category for the first time this season
00:31 on Sunday due to a combination of low temperatures, calm winds and farm fires in neighbouring
00:35 states.
00:36 AQI between 0-50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 as satisfactory, between 101 and
00:43 200 as moderate, between 201 and 300 as poor, between 301 and 400 as very poor and over
00:51 400 as severe.
00:54 A jump in farm fires in northern states has been blamed among reasons for the spike in
00:59 pollution levels.
01:00 The fires have started earlier than last year but the count is yet to spike significantly.
01:05 They tend to spike significantly by the end of October and in the first week of November.
01:09 Similarly, the overall air quality index in neighbouring Noida stood at 218 in the poor
01:14 category as per SAFAR India.
01:17 Meanwhile, Mumbai's air quality was also recorded in the moderate category on Wednesday
01:21 with the AQI at 147.
01:23 The probable reason for pollution in the financial capital is huge construction activity with
01:28 around 6,000 ongoing construction projects.
01:32 What steps has the government taken?
01:36 Delhi had last month announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and
01:40 use of firecrackers within the city.
01:43 A public awareness campaign, Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao, will soon be reintroduced to discourage
01:48 burning of firecrackers.
01:49 On Monday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the government has identified
01:54 eight more pollution hotspots in addition to the existing 13 in the national capital
01:58 and special teams will be deployed there to check pollution sources.
02:02 Rai said the government has also decided to use suppressant powder to prevent dust pollution
02:07 in the city.
02:13 [MUSIC PLAYING]
Comments