INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The skyline of Delhi was blue till last week but suddenly it has started getting grayish, gloomy and hazy
The morning has become mildly foggy and the air quality has deteriorated significantly in the last few days
The 'good' air quality has turned into 'moderate' category as the city's Air Quality Index has crossed the 150 mark
Last month,it was below 50.The gains in air quality made during the lockdown have started losing their sheen slowly
India Today spoke to experts on why Delhi's air quality is suddenly becoming poorer and what are the forecasts for days to come.Delhi has
witnessed mainly dry weather with no rainfall recorded in the last few days."The dry conditions in the area will continue for at least 3-4
days and even on September 19 when rains are expected in Delhi-NCR, it will be sporadic and drizzling in nature," said Anand Sharma, Deputy
Director General with the Regional Meteorological Center.This means a good spell of rain to wash out air pollution is unlikely now as the
monsoon will retract soon
Weather experts are of the view that the monsoon has not started retracting so far as there are certain parameters which decide the
retraction of monsoon from a particular area.The withdrawal of monsoon is likely to start from North-West India, including Rajasthan, and
this will impact weather conditions in Delhi-NCR."There are three parameters for withdrawal of monsoon condition: the absence of rain should
be for at least five days, conditions for anti-cyclonic circulation should be visible, and the humidity in air should be negligible," Anand
Sharma said.Right now, the first condition is present in Delhi and the rest are yet to be witnessed
There is no anti-cyclonic circulation in Delhi so far and easterly winds are bringing humidity, although they are not resulting in
rain.Executive Director with Center for Science and Environment (CSE) Anumita Roychaudhary explains that the current pollution rise from the
environmental point of view."Pollution levels have started to increase again
Every year when weather changes and October approaches, the pollution starts increasing," Anumita Roychaudhary said."It is the right time
that we should prepare and bring strategy into play to stop deterioration of the air quality further."From winters, the dual impact of
man-made conditions like crop burning and meteorological conditions like still air, along with drop in temperature, increase air pollution
The main components of the pollution in Delhi and neighboring areas are particulate matters, PM2.5 and PM10.The small particles generally
reach lungs and increase complications, especially in kids and senior citizens and those who are suffering with respiratory complications.As
of now, the AQI in Delhi is in the 'moderate; level, which is below 200
But, if the air quality in Delhi rises to 'poor' and 'very poor' category, complications will increase and it will impact people's health
more amid the coronavirus pandemic.
