• Noida and Gurugram recorded AQI of 375 and 377 respectively.
The bitter cold returned to the national capital on Saturday after a brief respite as people gathered near roadside bonfires to beat the biting cold. Haze enveloped the national capital on Saturday morning, keeping the overall air quality in the 'very poor' category with an overall air quality index of 369, according to SAFAR.
Areas such as Delhi University in the national capital recorded an AQI of 368, the airport recorded an AQI of 353, IIT Delhi at AQI 361 and Mathura Road at 375, all in the 'very poor' category.
Noida and Gurugram recorded 375 and 377 AQI respectively.
An air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered good, while 100 to 200 is moderate, 200 to 300 poor, 300 to 400 very poor, and 400 to 500 or above. considered serious.
In view of the rise in air pollution, the Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed implementation of restrictions under Phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, including ban on non-essential construction and demolition work. is included. The sub-committee on GRAP said in a review meeting that the AQI is likely to fall in the severe category due to calm winds and stable atmospheric conditions.
It directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to implement restrictions under Phase III of the anti-pollution plan with immediate effect.
The GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures to be taken in the capital and its surrounding areas according to the severity of the situation.
It classifies the air quality in Delhi-NCR into four different stages: Stage I - 'poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very poor' (AQI 301–400); Stage III - 'severe' (AQI 401–450); and Stage IV - 'severe plus' (AQI > 450).
If the AQI is expected to reach the severe category, preventive actions under Phase III should be initiated at least three days in advance. These include ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in the area.
Non-polluting activities such as plumbing, carpentry, interior decoration and electrical works are permitted. Meanwhile, the Delhi government will decide on December 31 whether BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers should be banned in the national capital, a senior transport department official said.
According to the IMD, Palam in Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius while Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius.
Talking about other states, the visibility at 8.30 am today was 0 meters in Bathinda, Chandigarh and Bikaner while 25 meters each in Phalodi, Ludhiana, Bareilly, Varanasi and Cooch Behar.
The India Meteorological Department had earlier predicted that cold wave conditions would prevail over Haryana, Chandigarh and New Delhi from December 31 and January 1.
In a tweet on December 28, the IMD said, "Dense fog and cold day conditions to reduce over northwest India during next 48 hours. A fresh round of dense fog and cold wave conditions likely over northwest India from December 31, 2022." Likely to start."
According to IMD, a gradual increase of 2-3°C in minimum temperature is very likely over plains of northwest India during next 2 days followed by a drop of 2-3°C. The minimum temperature is very likely to fall by 3-5°C over many parts of East India during next 2 days followed by an increase of 2-3°C.
Cold wave conditions are predicted at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and North Rajasthan on 01st and 02nd January, 2023.
28 December, 31 December and 01 January; in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi on December 31 and January 01, it said.
Dense to very dense fog over Punjab and dense fog over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and North Rajasthan during 30 December to 01 January.
