New Delhi remains trapped in severe plus pollution state; EPCA declares public health emergency till November 5

New Delhi, November 01: While the national capital on Friday continued to remain deteriorated following the continued stubble burning, the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority has declared a public health emergency in Delhi-NCR.

 

This is after the Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin on Thursday declared that October 31 in New Delhi, was the most polluted day this year. The Pollution control Authority has also banned construction till November 5 and bursting of crackers through winter in the region.

 

 

It is worth noting that all the pollution measuring stations in Delhi-NCR are recording AQI levels above 400, with the poorest air quality recorded at outer Delhi's Bawana, 716. Places like Anand Vihar, 478, Alipur, 473, Aya Nagar, 430, Dwarka, 447, Major Dhyanchand Stadium, 445 and Patparganj, 443 witnessed air quality deteriorate further, as per the air quality data revealed by Central Pollution Control Board.

 

However, the city is expected to remain blanketed under the pungent haze for the fourth consecutive day as over 20 of the 37 AQI monitoring stations across Delhi recorded severe air quality levels. Also the neighbouring Ghaziabad has emerged as the most polluted city in the country, with the levels of PM 2.5-tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns-reaching as high as over 480.

 

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good while 51-100 falls under satisfactory category; 101-200 is considered moderate. Trouble starts when the AQI is recorded between 201 and 300, poor, 301 and 400, very poor and 401 and 500, severe. Anything above 500 falls under the severe-plus emergency or hazardous category.