NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality nosedived to ‘severe’ for only the third time this season on Friday. The Central Pollution Control Board logged an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 423 at 4 pm, which was higher than Thursday’s 390 (‘very poor’). However, the rise in the pollution levels in the past 24 hours is primarily due to low temperatures, sluggish wind speed and winds blowing in from the north-west. Forecast agencies say the air quality can deteriorate further on Saturday before a western disturbance in the region effects an improvement from November 11.The SAFAR forecast said on Friday that a heavy air mass was coming towards Delhi at low wind speeds. There was, thus, a possibility that the wind could pick up at the upper level late in the night and push down the polluting particles, thereby keeping the air in the ‘severe’ category on Saturday. There is likely to be intensified fog too, which will trap airborne pollutants from dispersing.The forecasting agency added that heavy stubble burning was recorded in the past 24 hours, even if emissions from these were low at the moment. According to its prediction system, Delhi’s average PM2.5 level, hovering around 303 micrograms per cubic metre, could spike to 340 on Saturday, while the PM10 level, recorded at 440 micrograms per cubic metre on Friday, could jump to 494 on Saturday.Alongside the capital, neighbouring Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Noida all had air classified as “severe”, with only Gurgaon marginally better in the ‘very poor” range with an AQI of 400.CPCB’s central control room data showed Delhi-NCR’s average PM2.5 levels to be not only over five times the safe standard, but also over the “emergency” limit of 300 micrograms per cubic metre. If this situation prevails for 48 hours, emergency measures will be implemented under the Graded Response Action Plan.Till November 10, construction activities have already been stopped and trucks, except those carrying essential goods, have been barred from entering the city. EPCA said a decision on extending these measures will be taken on Saturday.“Air pollution is still on the higher side, but it could have been worse had we not imposed these measures,” said an EPCA member. “The CPCB-led task force will take a call on Saturday whether these measures need to be extended.”

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