Delhi Air Quality Index to remain in 'very poor' category till October 26: IMD scientist

New Delhi: Taking account of the poor air quality in the national capital IMD scientist VK Soni on Monday said that there will be some improvement in the air quality after the implementation of GRAP, but it would remain in 'very poor' category until October 26.

Speaking to ANI on Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, Soni said "Yesterday it reached 'very poor' category. The AQI was at 313 but this time GRAP Stage 2 was implemented much earlier and because of that, I think there will be some improvement in air quality. Our forecast is that the Air Quality will remain in the 'very poor' category till 26 October."

The IMD scientist further informed that the AQI is close to 300 on Monday and that there are hopes that the measures taken under GRAP 2 will benefit the air quality.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of guidelines and measures implemented to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India, which includes Delhi and its surrounding areas.

When the Air Quality Index of Delhi NCR ranges from 201 to 300, it will be termed 'poor' and classified under Stage 1 restrictions. AQI levels between 301-400 is called 'very poor' and falls under Stage 2. When AQI is 401-450 it is termed 'severe' and falls under Stage 3.
The overall air quality in the national capital on Monday morning was recorded in the 'very poor category', with the AQI at 306 against 302 recorded on Sunday afternoon, as per SAFAR-India.

While talking to ANI, a cyclist at Indian Gate, Sanjay Chaudhary, said "The situation is not good at all".
"I think pollution levels have been rising in Delhi for the past 10-12 days. We can feel it in our eyes today. The smog is dense. I think the situation is not good at all. We, the cyclists, carry masks and bandanas with us, but I don't think there is any alternative, and if you have to be on the road, you have to face it," Sanjay Chaudhary said.

Air quality in Delhi deteriorated from poor to the 'very poor' category, with the Air Quality Index at 302 on Sunday afternoon, as per SAFAR-India.
On Sunday morning, the air quality was recorded in the 'poor category' with an AQI of 266 against 173 recorded on Saturday.
The Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms that are easy to understand. There are six AQI categories, namely Good + Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
Each of these categories is decided based on the ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints).

According to the AQI scale, the air quality check between 0 and 50 is "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 450 "severe".