Delhi's air quality remains 'poor,' Anand Vihar worst hit
Delhi continued to battle poor air quality on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 265. This is a slight improvement from Saturday's AQI of 278 and Friday's figure of 292, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, the Centre's Air Quality Early Warning System predicts that Delhi's air quality will remain in the "very poor" category till Tuesday.
Anand Vihar records highest pollution level in Delhi
Anand Vihar continues to be the most polluted area in Delhi, recording an alarming AQI of 424 on Sunday morning. The figure falls in the "severe" category of air quality. Other highly polluted areas include Jahangirpuri (352 AQI) and Wazirpur (345 AQI). Particulate matter (PM)10 and PM2.5 were the major pollutants across these hotspots.
Low wind speeds and local emissions exacerbate pollution
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune has also flagged low wind speeds below 10km/h as a reason for pollutant dispersion. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the wind direction to shift to north and northwest by Thursday, with calm winds later in the week. Local factors such as vehicular emissions also play a major role in pollution, contributing 10.5% of the total.
Teams formed for dust control measures
In the morning, Chief Minister Atishi and Environment Minister Gopal Rai inspected Anand Vihar and stressed that anti-pollution measures are being strictly enforced to tackle this issue. "Teams have been formed for dust control measures," they added. "We have formed 99 teams who are carrying out dust control measures across Delhi. We have started the process of deploying more than 325 smog guns. PWD and MCD have deployed all their resources to combat pollution in Delhi," Atishi said.
