Delhi air quality slightly improves on Sunday, in 'poor' category

A slight improvement was recorded in national capital's air quality on Sunday after it remained in "very poor" category for three consecutive days. The overall air quality was in "poor", docking at 239, according to weather forecaster SAFAR.

At 9 am on Sunday morning, the AQI was recorded at 253 ('poor' category) around India Gate. At Chandni Chowk area, the PM 10 was at 246 which is again in the 'poor' category while the PM 2.5 levels were at 328 in the 'very poor' category.

The PM 10 levels were slightly better at Lodhi Road, docking in at 135 which falls in the 'moderate' category while the PM 2.5 remained 'poor' at 235.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 is marked as 'severe'. 

An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.

As a measure to control the pollution levels, Delhi fire service deployed 20 fire tenders to spray water on trees and roads at polluted areas in the city.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar called for people's movement to deal with the Delhi pollution which rises every year during winter and creates a thick layer of smog in the city.

Expressing confidence, Javadekar said, air pollution in Delhi will be reduced in lesser time than taken by China to address the problem of pollution in Beijing.

During winter each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. 

(With inputs from agencies)