Noida: The citys AQI was severe for the second straight day on Saturday as thick smog shrouded Delhi-NCR and the smoke triggered allergic reactions, like respiratory problems and itchy eyes. In Greater Noida, the AQI recorded severe-plus (above 450), grazing 500. In Ghaziabad, the AQI climbed down marginally to very poor from Fridays severe due to a relatively better wind speed.The Central Pollution Control Boarddata shows Noidas AQI has increased by over 100 points between October 30 and November 3, culminating in a descent into the severe category (above 401).However, the 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, marginally improved from 440 on Friday to 415 on Saturday.Greater Noidas AQI, which slipped into the severe-plus category on Friday (494), improved marginally on Saturday (490) but continued to be the worst in the country, as per the CPCB data.The air quality in neighbouring Ghaziabad (394), Gurgaon (404), Delhi (415) and Faridabad (438) also reported hazardous air quality. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, AQI is predicted to remain in the severe category till November 7.Gufran Beig, chair professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and founder of System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said the weather of Noida and Greater Noida is usually colder than Delhi and Gurgaon due to which these cities absorb more dust particles. Rain or high-speed wind can improve the situation, but the forecast shows there is no rain likely over the next few days and the air quality is likely to remain the same for 2-3 days, he said.On Saturday, GB Nagar district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma along with officials of Greater Noida Authority and pollution department conducted inspections and fined 15 developers Rs 1.56 crore cumulatively for GRAP violations pertaining to construction and demolition activities.DCP (traffic) Anil Kumar Yadav said the department also issued 100 challans related to PUC norms violations. We also seized 19 vehicles for different violations, he said.The contribution of stubble burning in Delhis PM2.5 was estimated at 23.6% on Saturday, according to the Decision Support System. Punjab, Haryana and UP recorded 1360, 33, and 17 paddy residue burning events, respectively, on the day, according to Indian Agricultural Research Institute.We also published the following articles recentlyAir quality in Delhi remains severe for 3rd straight day this week; AQI at 504The air quality in Delhi remained in the severe category for the third consecutive day, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 504. The situation is similar in Noida and Gurugram, where AQI levels are also in the severe category. Residents are expressing concern about the increasing pollution and are experiencing difficulty breathing. The National Green Tribunal has called for immediate remedial action and asked for a report on the steps taken to improve air quality in affected cities.Air Pollution: Delhi under a grey haze, AQI severeDelhis air quality remained in the severe category with an overall AQI of 415, although there was a slight improvement from the previous day. The haze continued to envelop the city, causing visibility to drop to 500 meters. The air quality in nearby NCR cities was equally toxic, with Greater Noida being the most polluted station in the country. Traders in Delhi have expressed concern over decreasing footfall in markets due to the rising pollution levels and have requested the central government to take measures to control pollution. The traders body also emphasized the need for collaboration among the governments of different states in the NCR region to effectively address the issue.NCR no different, AQI turns severe in GurgaonGurgaon experienced severe air quality for the first time this season, with an overall AQI of 404. Low wind speed and lack of action by authorities are being blamed for the rise in pollution levels. Other cities in the NCR region also reported severe or severe-plus air quality. Experts predict that the air quality will remain poor for the next few days due to low wind speed and unfavorable meteorological conditions. Stubble burning and construction activities are contributing to the pollution. Punjab, Haryana, and UP recorded several instances of paddy residue burning. Delhis air quality also worsened during the evening, reaching an AQI of 433.

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