New Delhi, Nov 18 (Agency) There is no respite to the people of Delhi –NCR as air quality continues to remain in the ‘very poor’ category on Thursday, despite various measures being taken by the Central and State governments. The air quality Index (AQI) stagnated at 352 around 10 am in the morning, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the national capital’s overall air quality index (AQI) at 10 AM was at 379. “The effective farm fire count has reduced to 2643 and its contribution to Delhi’s PM2.5 today is 6 percent as per the agency.” said the agency. According to data of Central Pollution Control Board around 10 am the AQI in Wazirpur in the north Delhi stood at 405, Punjabi Bagh area was at 445, Chandni Chowk of 372, ITO recorded 342, while the Mathura road recorded an AQI of 350.
Meanwhile in Noida sec 62 the AQI touched 353 and in Vasundhara Ghaziabad it recorded 369. At 10 in the morning, the concentrations of the particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of 10 and PM 2.5 microns stood at 284 (‘poor’ category) and 159 (‘very poor’ category) respectively, the SAFAR stated. On Wednesday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that the commission on air pollution has come out with strict measures to curb pollution in the Delhi-NCR. These measures include the complete closure of all public and private educational institutions, a ban on entry of trucks barring few exceptions, and the closure of six thermal power plants in the 300 km radius of the national capital. Meanwhile, announcing emergency measures to reduce pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that there will be 100 percent work from home for the government departments till November 21. Construction and demolition work has also been banned till November 21 in Delhi, while schools and other educational institutes will also remain closed in the national capital.