Delhiites got a huge relief from the noxious air on Monday as after two months, the Suspended Particulate Matters(SPMs) — Particulate Matters (10,2.5) slipped into ‘moderate category’ while air quality was tagged as ‘cleanest air’ of the season.
It prompted the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to announce that the vehicle rationing odd-even scheme will not be re-introduced.
“The sky is clear now, there is no need of it (scheme)”, said Kejriwal. The Chief Minister had said that if the air quality does not improve in the city, he would re-implement the scheme.
From dark maroon to orange, Delhi’s air quality improved significantly however this relief is likely to be short-lived because winds are going to slow down significantly from Tuesday evening and may remain calm on 20th and 21 November.
According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), pollutant accumulation leading to quick deterioration is predicted for November 20 and probability of AQI may touch Severe on 21st.
While the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 218, this was the first time when levels of Particulate Matters, PM 10 and 2.5 were 154 and 96.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-mandated anti-pollution authority, EPCA, also asked Delhi and NCR States to step up surveillance and enforcement to check local sources of pollution and crop burning in view of a predicted dip in air quality in the next two-three days.
In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority Chairman Bhure Lal said hot mix plants, ready mix plants and stone crushers will continue to remain closed in Delhi-NCR.
The Supreme Court mandated EPCA had on November 4 banned construction and demolition activities in the region till further notice.
“The air in the region has finally improved after days of dense and highly hazardous smog. This is the result of high winds and good ventilation index we have seen over the past few days,” Bhure Lal said.
However, he said, the India Meteorological Department has alerted that the next few days -- from Tuesday to Thursday -- will witness slow wind speed and very little ventilation.
Under such circumstances, dispersion of pollutants will not happen and there is a likelihood that the air quality will slip back into the very poor category and even the severe category, Bhure Lal said.
The situation will worsen if there’s light rain, which would be inadequate to wash away the pollutants and add to the moisture instead, he said.
“We have seen this in the past week how increased moisture, which traps the pollutants and creates a cloud of haze, leads to a sharp deterioration of air quality,” the letter quoted Bhure Lal as saying.
“It is for this reason, we have to step up surveillance and enforcement (to check) local sources of pollution and crop burning, The Supreme Court has already directed all authorities to ensure tough action against pollution,” he said. The Supreme Court had on November 15 directed that hot spots be cleared of pollutants within a week.