Delhi’s air quality likely to worsen due to stubble burning

Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category on Tuesday and is likely to turn poor in the coming days due to stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and other neighbouring regions. 

The city recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 177 at 10.30 am which falls in the ‘moderate’ category.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor, SAFAR, said the national capital’s AQI will remain in the ‘moderate’ category on Wednesday and Thursday and will start deteriorating later.

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“A sharp increase in stubble burning was observed around Punjab, Haryana, and neighbouring border regions. Boundary layer wind direction is favourable for transport (of pollutants). It will start impacting Delhi in the coming days,” the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.

On Monday, the 24-hour average AQI was 179. 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 ‘severe’.

Also, there is a marked dip in minimum temperatures recorded in Delhi.

On Tuesday, it settled at 18.2 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal. Low temperatures and stagnant winds help in the accumulation of pollutants near the ground, affecting air quality.