According to SAFAR-India, the national capital’s overall air quality on Thursday morning was rated as “poor,” with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 256. In order to reduce pollution, water was sprayed in the Anand Vihar area using an anti-smog gun. Delhi’s air quality is classified as “poor” based on data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). According to the most recent SAFAR data, Delhi University’s surrounding air quality was rated at 316 (very poor) this morning.
Noida recorded an AQI of 269 (poor) and Gurugram 176 (moderate).
Meanwhile, to reduce pollution in the national capital, an anti-pollution drive is also going to start today.
A resident of the city, Bhagwati Prasad, while speaking to ANI, said that the situation is very bad and there seems to be no solution as it happens every year.
“The pollution situation is very bad. There has been coughing and burning in the throat for the last few days. There seems to be no solution, as it happens every year. There is a lot of traffic,” Bhagwati Prasad said.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the overall air quality in Delhi was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 190, as per SAFAR-India.
With this marginal improvement in the overall air quality on Wednesday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged the states in the National Capital Area to ban firecrackers ahead of the upcoming Diwali, keeping in view the measures put in place in the city to tackle pollution.
According to the minister, there was less firecracker popping during Tuesday’s celebration of Dussehra, and if this trend continues for Diwali, it will have a positive effect on Delhi’s pollution levels. “I believe that, in comparison, fewer places had firecrackers set off this time around (during Dussehra). Since firecrackers are readily available to people in the Delhi-NCR region, I would like to make the request once more that the states outlaw them. Gopal Rai stated, “I believe Delhi will benefit more if the NCR states also outlaw it.