The national Capital’s air quality was recorded in the higher end of the “moderate” category on Saturday, but a Government forecasting agency said it is likely to improve marginally on October 11.
The city’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 197, which falls in the higher end of the “moderate” category. It was in “poor” category at 204 on Friday. The Ministry of earth sciences’ air quality monitor, SAFAR, said PM 2.5 is the lead pollutant in Saturday’s AQI and is likely to improve to the “moderate” category by Sunday.
“The overall Delhi AQI is in the higher end of ‘moderate’ and at the edge of the ‘poor’ category, with PM 2.5 as the lead pollutant,” SAFAR said.
It said the AQI is forecast to marginally improve but remain in the ‘moderate’ category for Sunday while further AQI is forecast to improve by October 12, which will also remain in the moderate category.
It said the low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify to depression and move west northwestwards and influence the circulations in the north and central India.
“A shift in Delhi surface wind direction, northwesterly to southeasterly by October 12 is forecast. This could influence air quality positively in the coming week,” it said.
Due to stubble burning around Punjab, Haryana, and neighbouring border regions, the fire count was found at 253 on Saturday, SAFAR said.