Air pollution: Delhi's air quality drops to ‘poor’ category with AQI of 256

Delhi AQI:  Delhi air quality: As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the overall air quality in the national capital on Thursday morning was recorded in the 'poor' category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 256.

Check list of Air Quality at various places across Delhi 

Delhi University - 316 (very poor),

Noida - AQI of 269 (poor), 

Gurugram 176 (moderate).

Meanwhile, to reduce pollution in the national capital, an anti-pollution drive is also going to start today.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the overall air quality in Delhi was recorded in the 'moderate' category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 190, as per SAFAR-India.

With this marginal improvement in the overall air quality on Wednesday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged the states in the National Capital Area to ban firecrackers ahead of the upcoming Diwali, keeping in view the measures put in place in the city to tackle pollution.

The minister said that during Dussehra, which was celebrated on Tuesday, there was less bursting of firecrackers and if the same continues for Diwali, then it will have a better impact on pollution levels in Delhi.

 On the improvement, the Environment Minister said, "Two days ago, the AQI level in Delhi was above 300. A decrease in the AQI level has been recorded and it has come below 300. I think that in the days to come, this will keep fluctuating. It is being estimated that after October 30, this will perhaps go up again."

As stubble burning continues in parts of Punjab and Haryana, air quality in the national capital has worsened in the past few days. According to data, over 2,500 cases of stubble burning have been reported this year so far. However, farm fire numbers are better than those of the previous two years.

The second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in Delhi to reduce the effect of increased pollution.

The Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms that are easy to understand. 

Check AQI scale 

0 and 50 are considered "good”, 

51 and 100 are "satisfactory", 

101 and 200 are "moderate", 

201 and 300 are "poor", 

301 and 400 are "very poor", 

401 and 450 are "severe"  

450 considered as "severe " 

- With inputs from agencies

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