Delhi: Air quality remains hazardous, construction ban extended to Nov 12

Delhi air quality remained hazardous on Sunday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) at 633 at Mundka. 

AQI remained well above 300 in most parts of the city which poses a major health risk. 

On Saturday too, the air quality remained 'severe' and though the pollution level dipped marginally for a brief period in the morning, it turned severe again by evening.  

Meanwhile, authorities extended till November 12 the ban on construction activities, industries using coal and biomass, and entry of trucks, while the CPCB issued show cause notices to police departments and officials of Delhi-NCR over "non-compliance" of the Supreme Court order on sale and bursting of firecrackers.

Delhi-NCR had recorded its worst air quality a day after Diwali on Wednesday, with AQI at 642 in 'severe plus emergency' category. On Friday too, the air quality remained 'severe'. 

Noting that the 'severe +' situation has continued for 37 hrs, a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-led task force, which reviews the national capital's air quality, recommended that the ban on construction activities, industries using coal and biomass and entry of trucks should continue till November 12, 2018.

Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Greater Noida recorded severe air quality while Noida and Gurgaon recorded very poor air quality, according to the CPCB.

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

The weather analysts expect a marginal improvement from Monday onwards.