NEW DELHI: The deterioration in Delhi’s air quality continued on Wednesday and touched the ‘very poor’ level for the first time this season. The Central Pollution Control Board put the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 313 and both the average PM2.5 and PM10 levels also recorded a rise. In addition to the low wind speeds, harvest stubble burning was reported in the northern plains, leading agencies to forecast a climb in pollution levels in the coming days.The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) — the enforcing body for the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) which came into effect on Monday — said the measures meant to counter pollution in the ‘very poor’ category were already in place, except for the hike in parking fees, which is unlikely to be implemented this year.“We have been observing the situation closely,” said Sunita Narain, director-general of Centre for Science and Environment and member of EPCA. “We will not hike parking charges because it will be difficult to implement in the absence of a parking policy. The other measures are in place and only need execution on the ground. We have also asked other agencies to intensify their action.”Delhi’s overall AQI rose from 291 on Tuesday to 313 on Wednesday. The three-day forecast by SAFAR shows Delhi’s air quality likely to deteriorate in the coming days. Readings between 201 and 300 are classified as ‘poor’ on this index, while those between 301 and 400 are classified as ‘very poor’. A reading of above 400 is classified as ‘severe’, the highest category in the CPCB index.“The spike in pollution is primarily due to localised conditions because wind speeds have dropped. The temperature is also dropping and making dispersion of particulate matter more sluggish. Stubble burning may also be playing a part in this,” explained Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR. “Forecasts by the system show the pollution rising further in the next three days as wind speeds are likely to be low.”Delhi’s minimum temperature on Wednesday was 19.2 degrees Celsius, having dropped to 16.5 degrees earlier in the week. Data according to CPCB’s central control room showed Delhi’s average PM10 levels at close to 350 micrograms per cubic metre during the day, dropping to around 318 micrograms per cubic metre by 8 pm. The average PM2.5 levels in the same time frames were both recorded at 135 micrograms per cubic metre. The level considered safe for the former is 100 micrograms per cubic metre and for PM2.5 it is 60.Diesel generators have been banned in the national capital and the Badarpur thermal power plant was shut down on Monday. In addition, agencies have been enforcing dust control measures and controlling burning of waste.

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