The air quality index (AQI) has marginally improved in several parts of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) after overnight rains. According to reports, the light showers have caused a fall in particulate matter in the air on Friday, just ahead of Diwali.
The much-needed respite came after Delhi reeled under severe air pollution for days. Though the overall air quality in Delhi at 7am was 407, several air quality monitoring stations recorded an AQI less than 100 on Friday morning. For instance, the air quality index in Connaught Palace improved into 'good category' and was recorded at 85. Other regions where the AQI has considerably improved include Sri Aurobindo Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Mother Dairy plant and sector-1, Noida among others.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded 6 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, the IMD said. The Met department data showed most of the areas in Delhi recorded light rain and cleared the haze that has lingered for over 10 days.
More showers expected
The IMD has predicted light showers, caused by an active Western disturbance, in Delhi-NCR and surrounding regions for the next few days. “We are expecting rains in Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan and parts of UP. We expect clear skies from tomorrow and cold winds will start in the plains of North Western India due to snowfall in the hilly areas,” IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy told ANI.
The weather department has also predicted a partly cloudy sky in Delhi for two days post Diwali which falls on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government is set to approach the Supreme Court for permission to introduce artificial rain to improve air quality. "A positive impact of rainfall has been noticed on the AQI level. We are going to put forward to the Supreme Court our studies on the implementation of the odd-even scheme and the need for artificial rainfall to control pollution in Delhi,” Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.
The apex court had come down heavily on the AAP government for failure to implement measures to combat the hazardous air. On Tuesday, the SC questioned the effectiveness of the Delhi government's car-rationing scheme, aimed at curbing vehicular pollution, and referred to it as "all optics".
