GHAZIABAD: The air quality improved considerably in Ghaziabad on Wednesday after four days in the ‘severe’ zone, providing some relief to residents gasping for clean air.During the day, the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 362, sliding into the ‘very poor’ level after hovering in the ‘severe’ zone for the past four days. On Tuesday, Ghaziabad had reported the AQI at 451.Noida and Greater Noida, too, reported improvement in the air quality, recording AQI at 347 and 383, respectively, both in the ‘very poor’ category. While Noida’s AQI was at 408, Greater Noida had reported 394 on Tuesday.Experts attributed the overall improvement to prevailing wind conditions, besides the series of measures taken by the local administrations.D Saha, former additional director and head of air quality management division in the Central Pollution Board (CPCB), said, “Air movement has improved. Currently, it is blowing from east-southeast towards west, and not through northern India, resulting in dispersion of pollutants. This is the reason that the air quality has slightly improved, especially in Delhi-NCR.”“The condition is expected to improve in coming days, providing much respite from pollution,” predicted Saha.The administration, on its part, claimed to have enforced GRAP measures that had helped arrest the rising pollution graph. “We have implemented GRAP steps much in advance and put in place a system anticipating deteriorating air quality in the city. Apart from favourable wind conditions, the measures we have been taking have helped keep the AQI within tolerable limits, even if not good,” said AK Tiwari, district pollution board chief.On Wednesday, too, the administration, pollution board, GDA, GMC and other local civic bodies cracked down on violators. “On Wednesday, three polluting units were shut down in Sahibabad industrial area and I Morta for violating pollution norms. Also, fines worth Rs 4.50 lakh were imposed on 34 private realtors for violating construction ban,” said Tiwari.Also, six mechanized sweeping machines have been deployed near industrial areas and other vulnerable points to check dust pollution. “Besides, GMC and different civic agencies are sprinkling water on a 86-km stretch with the help of 20 tankers,” said Tiwari.

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