Delhi air pollution: The air quality in Delhi improved slightly on Thursday morning as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded over 330 but continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the fourth day in a row. Haze was witnessed in several areas of the national capital.

As per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Thursday at 7:00 am, the AQI at Anand Vihar was recorded at (392), Ashok Vihar (350), IGI airport T3 (334), ITO Delhi (324), RK Puram (359), Okhla Phase-2 (322), Ashok Vihar (350), and Dwaraka-Sector 8 (348), all falling in the very poor category, ANI reported.

On Monday, the AQI stood at 310 in Delhi. On Tuesday, air quality further dipped and was recorded at 385 and on Wednesday, the AQI stood at 354.

Also Read: Smog blankets Delhi as AQI plummets to ‘very poor’ category, stands at 385

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is severe. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the day forecast indicates a maximum and minimum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.

As the AQI continued to deteriorate, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on October 24 expressed concerns and said that the winds are moving in the northwest direction, which could increase the pollution levels in the national capital territory (NCT) due to stubble burning in the neighbouring states.

“As per the information given by the meteorological department, the winds are now moving in the northwest direction. The effect of stubble burning from Haryana and Punjab will be more visible in Delhi. We have put all our departments on alert mode given the increase in pollution levels. I am going to write a letter to the Union Environment Minister for the third time, urging him to call a meeting. The research conducted by IIT Kanpur regarding artificial rain should be taken forward to resolve the pollution crisis. All the formalities should be fulfilled. I had also written to transport ministers of neighbouring states to not send diesel vehicles in Delhi till the weather is unfavourable,” Gopal Rai said, ANI reported.

Also Read: Delhi air pollution: Delhi AQI remains ‘very poor’, stands at 354

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) forecast the AQI to be in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories for the next six days. “Meteorological conditions are unfavourable for the effective dispersion of pollutants as calm winds prevail during (Tuesday) night,” it added, Indian Express reported.

According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute data, Wednesday saw 57 cases of stubble burning in Punjab, 15 in Haryana, 68 in Uttar Pradesh and none in Delhi, IE reported.