Delhi marks 326 in Air Quality Index(AQI) at 7am on Tuesday hinting towards a record of cleanest air day post Diwali from the last eight years. The previous lowest was marked in 12 November, 2015 with AQI 360(very poor).
Considering the worsening air pollution in Delhi, the government had announced a ban on firecrackers on Diwali. A fine of Rs200 and jail term up to six months was also announced as a punishment for those bursting crackers amidst the ban. Despite all these regulations, residents in many neighborhoods of south and northwest Delhi was reported to have burst crackers including high intensity firecrackers which turned Delhi’s air quality “very poor” on Monday.
At 4pm on Monday, Delhi’s pollution level worsened to AQI 312 (very poor). Even though there was a ban on firecrackers from Monday evening onwards, calm wind conditions and an increased stubble burning caused further deterioration in AQI.
AQI category is calculated as: Between Zero and 50 is ‘good’, 51 and 100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 is ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 is ‘poor’, 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 is ‘severe’.