Delhi: Nice surface winds help the AQI move up to the “very poor” category

Monday’s increase in surface winds during the day contributed to Delhi’s average 24-hour air quality index (AQI) falling into the “very poor” category on Tuesday, after it had been in the “severe” category for five days in a row.

The average AQI recorded by the recording sites this morning at 7 am was 395 (very poor), whereas on Monday it was 421 (severe) at 4 pm. The national capital’s marginally improved air quality status was bolstered by a plethora of restrictions implemented under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) the day before, in addition to surface winds.

Winds of eight to ten kmph are predicted for Delhi this afternoon as well, which could help spread the pollutants even further, according to officials.

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As per an IMD official, the wind direction, which was previously northwesterly, changed to southeasterly on Monday. During November 7–10, a western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India. The wind direction will become unpredictable and we expect wind speeds to rise up gradually starting Tuesday afternoon, thus this will primarily affect Jammu and Kashmir, but Delhi could also feel some effects, according to scientist Kuldeep Srivastava of IMD.

“It is anticipated that the wind speed will progressively increase, starting from approximately 8 kmph on Tuesday and reaching an average of 15 kmph by November 11,” he continued.

Visibility has also improved compared to the previous days, according to real-time IMD data, which was recorded at about 1,100 meters this morning at 7 a.m. On Monday, it was at 400 meters at the same time.

Sunday at 4 p.m., Delhi’s Air Quality Index reached a high of 454, which prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to declare stage 4 of GRAP that same day. Stage 4 curbs primarily target diesel cars and forbid entry into the capital of any diesel light commercial vehicle registered outside of Delhi that is not BS-VI.

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In a similar vein, trucks are prohibited from entering Delhi, and all diesel medium- and heavy-goods vehicles (MGV) are restricted from operating in the capital. All linear construction projects, including flyovers, roads, and highways, have also been halted under this category.

Last Thursday, the AQI hit 400 for the first time this season, and it has stayed “severe” since 5 p.m. until now.

On Monday, the Delhi government re-imposed the odd-even scheme from November 13-20 in a bid to prevent further deterioration, especially after Diwali on November 12. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal convened an emergency-meeting yesterday, after which Delhi environment minister announced that they had decided to not only implement odd-even again but have also directed schools to suspend physical classes for all grades barring classes 10 and 12, until November 10. Classes can be held online during this period, he said. A decision to allow 50% government employees to work from home will be taken later.