Delhi’s AQI drops below 200-mark, air quality in ‘moderate’ range

Delhiites breathed better air for third consecutive day on Friday, with the air quality improving to ‘moderate’ level in the national capital. The Commission for Air Quality Management relaxed curbs under GRAP III and IV following a consistent drop in air pollution levels on Thursday.

According to Central Pollution Control Board officials,  At 9 am, an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 187 was recorded in the national capital. Friday’s AQI was slightly higher than Thursday morning's reading of 161, officials noted. As per CPCB data, of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, 14 stations recorded AQI in the ‘poor’ category.

The city's minimum temperature settled 1 degree below normal at 8.5 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.  The IMD has forecast mainly shallow fog for the day, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 27 degrees Celsius, PTI reported.

An AQI between zero 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'.

Following the Supreme Court’s order on Thursday, the CAQM relaxed curbs under GRAP III and IV in the national capital. The restrictions have been relaxed to GRAP II following improvement in the air quality levels. Delhi’s air quality worsened since the end of October, with AQI dropping to ‘severe’ category in several areas.

The air quality panel imposed GRAP IV restrictions in Delhi on November 18 as the air quality index deteriorated to ‘severe+’ for the first time this season. On November 17, the AQI had touched 457. The Supreme Court had criticised the Delhi government and Delhi police heavily for poor implementation of firecracker ban and GRAP IV restrictions. The apex court had advised the Delhi government to consider a perpetual ban on firecrackers in the national capital.