The 10-day long relief from toxic air ended as smog returned on Thursday to choke Delhi-NCR with the pollution levels entering the “hazardous” zone in many parts of Delhi and its suburbs.
Also, the national Capital registered the season’s lowest minimum temperature at 7.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday with the overall air quality index (AQI) touching 382 in Delhi and its adjoining areas.
Following the development, a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-led task force asked all agencies in Delhi-NCR to take stringent steps to control air pollution.
The overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi read 382 at 4 pm, while the AQI entered the severe zone in Ghaziabad (432), Greater Noida (417) and Noida (414) on Thursday.
The levels of PM2.5 — particulate matter so small that they can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream — shot up to 245 micrograms per cubic metre, six times the safe limit of 0-60, by 8 pm. The last time such levels were reported was on November 16.
At a meeting of the task force, VK Soni, a senior scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the region is likely to witness slow wind speed in the next five days.
He asked officials to intensify enforcement activities in hot spots and industrial areas and recommended people to minimise the use of private vehicles.
The wind direction is expected to shift from North to North-East Friday onwards which may increase pollution further, he said.
The AQI is likely drop to the lower end of severe category by Friday. Rain and thunderstorm on December 11 may bring some relief, Soni said.
During a review meeting with the implementing agencies on Tuesday, the CPCB said December and January have seen a number of days in the “very severe” category in the last three years.
“Similar situation may emerge this year as well, unless timely and adequate field-level preventive action is taken by implementing agencies,” it said.
NK Gupta, Additional Director, CPCB, pointed out that a large number of incidents of construction and demolition activities and open dumping of garbage were being reported from some parts of Delhi and neighbouring towns such as Ghaziabad and Faridabad.
“Therefore, municipal corporations in these areas are required to pay greater attention to such polluting activities and take all necessary measures to check air pollution on account of such activities,” he said.
It was also pointed out that for want of timely reporting by implementing agencies, it has not been possible to make correct assessment of their performance.
According to a private weather forecasting agency Skymet, PM 2.5 levels are in poor category, while PM 10 still is in moderate category in some parts. Noida on the other hand is seeing PM 10 in the severe category.
It said no relief in terms of pollution is expected in the coming days as light winds will continue to blow over the region with temperatures being on the lower side.