The ongoing struggle with toxic air quality continues to afflict Delhi as the air quality in the national capital once again plummeted to the ‘very poor’ category on Friday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 374, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
At locations like Anand Vihar, the AQI remained at 374 (very poor). Visuals from AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Kalindi Kunj, and Akshardham at 7 am depicted the city shrouded in smog, as ANI reported.
Also Read: Delhi gets brief relief as rain improves air quality slightly, AQI at 365
Previously, on Thursday, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category with an overall AQI of 276, as reported by SAFAR-India.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast no rainfall in the national capital until December 11, expecting clear skies with shallow to moderate fog in the mornings.
Also Read:Delhi air quality plummets to ‘severe’ category, AQI over 410 in several areas
In the recent Winter Session of Parliament, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh slammed Union Minister Bhupender Yadav for providing vague responses during the Question Hour on “air pollution in NCR and the country” in the Rajya Sabha. Ramesh had inquired about a potential review of the Pollution Control Act of 1981 and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
In response, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated, “In view of the problem of air pollution in the country, a provision of Rs 19,711 crore was made by the Central government. And to define the standards that were set, 131 cities in the country were also identified.”
The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered ‘good’, 100 to 200 ‘moderate’, 200 to 300 ‘poor’, 300 to 400 ‘very poor’ and from 400 to 500 or above ‘severe’.
(With ANI Inputs)