Delhi air now satisfactory, mercury to rise steadily

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air improved to the ‘satisfactory’ category on Saturday as the AQI touched 100, better than Friday’s ‘moderate’ at 144 and Thursday’s ‘poor’ at 230.
Data according to Central Pollution Control Board’s central control room showed NCR’s average PM2.5 levels recorded at 49.5 micrograms per cubic metre at 7pm on Saturday. The average PM10 levels, at the same time, also well below the safe standards, were recorded at 91.8 micrograms per cubic metre, data showed.The ‘emergency’ benchmark for these pollutants under Graded Response Action Plan is, respectively, 300 and 500 micrograms per cubic metre, while the safe standards are 60 and 100 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively.
According to SAFAR, the AQI will be in the ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ category for Sunday. “Marginal deterioration in AQI to the ‘poor’ category is forecast for Monday and Tuesday,” a report on Saturday said.
Earlier, it was a misty morning in the city on Saturday with the minimum temperature settling at 13 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average. The maximum temperature was 24.8 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
“Rainfall in north India and strong winds for the past threefour days have helped the city’s air quality. The temperature, however, in the next two-three days, will reach 27 degrees Celsius and the rising trend will continue,” Kuldeep Srivastava, head, IMD regional forecasting centre, said, adding that on February 27 and 28, another western disturbance is expected.
On Sunday, a mainly clear sky is expected with mist in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 26 and 13 degrees Celsius, respectively.