Delhi Air Quality Takes A Nosedive Again Due To THIS Reason; Emergency Meeting Held

The Air Quality Index or AQI, in the national capital city was marked in 'very poor' category, as per the CAQM, a statutory body responsible for planning and implementing air pollution reduction strategies in the Delhi-NCR.

The air quality in Delhi plummeted to alarming levels on Tuesday with the Air Quality Index surging to 302 for the 24-hour period, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The AQI in the national capital city was marked in ‘very poor’ category, as per the CAQM, a statutory body responsible for planning and implementing air pollution reduction strategies in the Delhi-NCR.

According to the CAQM, the 24-hour air quality index of the city soared to 302 by 4 pm, adding that the sharp dip in the city’s AQI levels was ,caused due to highly unfavourable meteorological conditions.

The alarming nosedive in the air quality in the national capital prompted CAQM to call an emergency meeting. At the meeting representatives of the country’s premier weather agencies, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, attributed the dip in the air quality to “highly unfavourable meteorological conditions”, officials said.

As per experts, the particulate matter load over the region increased due to rapid changes in wind direction and speeds due to high convection rate and absolute dry conditions leading to continued suspension of dust and this may not be attributed to any specific local sector.

The CAQM has asked all the agencies concerned to intensify action to control dust pollution arising from construction and demolition activities, linear projects, roads and open areas, a statement from the body said.

(With PTI inputs)