Delhi Pollution: No breather for national capital as air quality remains 'very poor', authorities fear more deterioration this week

There seems to be no respite for Delhiites anytime soon as pollution levels are continuing to rise with "very poor" air quality in the national capital. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the average reading in the national capital was recorded at 318 of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 at 9 am on Monday.

Dwarka and Narela recorded worst air quality at 361 and 300 respectively.

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".

An official said the air quality of Delhi might deteriorate to "severe" category in the coming days as the air becomes heavier and results in formation of smog.

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) on Friday had held a meeting with officials of the Punjab, Haryana and the Delhi governments to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital.

A CPCB official said a number of factors were responsible for the deteriorating air quality, including vehicular pollution, construction activities and meteorological factors like direction of wind, which is now flowing from the stubble burning areas.