As Delhi's air quality turns 'severe' again, EPCA extends ban on construction work, entry of heavy vehicles till Monday

New Delhi: After a slight improvement on Saturday morning, Delhi’s air quality again turned ‘severe’ by evening due to unfavourable weather conditions and a significant increase in pollution from stubble burning, authorities said. The pollution level had dipped marginally on Saturday morning with air quality index of 394 but by evening the pollution again dropped from ‘very poor’ category to ‘severe’ level and an AQI of 403 was recorded. [caption id=“attachment_5499271” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of pollution in Delhi. AP[/caption] On Saturday, the PM 2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) level was recorded at 261 while the PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) was recorded at 416 in Delhi, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Twenty areas in Delhi recorded severe air quality while 15 areas recorded very poor air quality, according to the CPCB. 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”. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the increase in PM 2.5 concentration is due to stable meteorological conditions, trapping of pollutants in Delhi (very less dispersion) and a significant increase in contribution from stubble burning. Stubble burning in neighbouring states of Delhi on Thursday was the “largest-ever recorded” this year which might lead to a further deterioration in the already “severe” air quality of the national capital, the IITM said Friday. It said about 2,100 fire counts were observed on Thursday over northwestern region of India. The air quality in Delhi has been severe for the past two days with the highest pollution level of the year recorded a day after Diwali on Thursday at an AQI of 642. Meanwhile, the Environment Pollution Control Authority has asked the authorities to extend the ban on construction activities, industries using coal and biomass and entry of trucks till 12 November due to the deteriorated air quality in the national capital.