Delhi: Air quality may worsen in the capital from today, wind speed reduced, AQI is likely to cross 200

The pollution level in Delhi may reach poor category from today. It is feared that the direction of the winds may change from north-west and south-west to only north-west. The speed may also reduce to 12 km per hour.

On Tuesday, winds blew at a speed of 16 km in Delhi. Due to light winds, a slight increase in pollution levels was recorded. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, there was a slight increase in Delhi's pollution index on Tuesday due to a slight change in the direction of the winds. Delhi's pollution index was recorded at 175 on Monday, which increased to 180 on Tuesday, which is moderate level.

On Wednesday it may increase beyond 200, which will be a bad category. According to the institute, the air quality remained in the moderate category on Tuesday. The air quality is expected to remain in the lower 'poor' category till October 13. Air quality may remain in the poor to moderate category in the next six days.

The predominant surface winds in Delhi on Tuesday were from west-north-west/south-west directions at 16 km per hour. On Wednesday, with clear sky and fog, the main surface wind in Delhi may blow from north-west direction at a speed of 04-12 km per hour. The estimated maximum mixing height on Tuesday was 3350 meters.

With the increasing pollution levels in Delhi, the government is strict on the negligence regarding dust pollution. As part of the anti-dust campaign launched on Tuesday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai conducted a surprise inspection of the NBCC project located at Karkardooma. During this time he found many irregularities related to dust control at the construction site. On the spot, he directed DPCC to issue a notice to the construction agency. If a satisfactory answer is not received, a fine will be imposed.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that it is necessary to implement the 14 rules issued for dust control at construction sites. Action will be taken if it is violated. Officials have been instructed to continuously inspect construction sites. After inspecting the NBCC project site, Gopal Rai said that environmental rules are not being followed properly at the construction site.

The air quality in the capital is gradually deteriorating. To ensure that this situation does not become serious, Winter Action Plan will be implemented in schools also to control pollution. Under this plan, green area will be increased in schools, awareness programs will be held to control pollution and water will be sprinkled in the school premises. Along with this, children will be made aware not to burn firecrackers.

The Directorate of Education has instructed all government, government-aided and private schools to take necessary steps to implement the action plan and send reports in this regard. Through the action plan, the Directorate of Education has issued guidelines for schools. Schools have been directed to organize various activities to control air pollution and enhance air quality. These include sprinkling water in schools, creating awareness not to burn firecrackers, increasing the green area in schools, running awareness campaigns to control pollution and implementing the Grape scheme.