Highlight
- Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 323 a day after Diwali, while it was 462 in 2021
- Environment Minister Gopal Rai warned, air pollution may increase in the coming days
- Anti-smog guns to be installed in 40 polluted areas in the national capital
Delhi AQI: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said the national capital recorded the best air quality a day after Diwali as incidents of bursting of crackers have declined by 30 per cent this year.
He said the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 323 on Tuesday, a day after Diwali, as against 462 in 2021.
He said, ‘The people of Delhi were thinking a lot on Diwali this year and I want to thank them. Today the pollution level is the lowest in five years.
He made these statements on the sidelines of an event where he launched 150 mobile anti-smog guns. According to him, anti-smog guns will be installed in at least 40 polluted areas across the city, where pollution levels are generally high. “The AQI of 323 is still worrying and tells us that air pollution will increase further in the days to come,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Rai also claimed that the Punjab government had successfully managed to burn stubble in the entire state this year, without any assistance from the Centre.
“Punjab recorded 1,019 incidents of stubble burning on Diwali (Monday), compared to 3,032 on Diwali last year. “On the other hand, fire incidents have increased in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Earlier on October 24, Delhi’s air quality had moved closer to the “very poor” category, as adverse climatic conditions enabled pollutants to accumulate.
The air quality index of the city was recorded at 298 at 6 am on Diwali. Air quality in 19 out of 35 monitoring stations was recorded in “very poor category”, while, one station, Anand Vihar, reported “severe” pollution level.
(with inputs from PTI)
Read also: Delhi’s air quality nears ‘very poor’ level on Diwali morning