Delhi's Air Quality Plummets Amidst Changing Weather Patterns
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New Delhi, Feb 24 (NationPress) The air quality in Delhi continues to hover in the poor to very poor range, with Anand Vihar reporting the highest level of 331 AQI. Since early February, weather conditions in the Delhi-NCR area have been fluctuating, but the warming trend is now noticeable even before the festivities of Holi. The chill is primarily limited to the early hours of the morning and late at night, while strong afternoon sunlight is becoming prominent throughout the city and nearby regions.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has documented AQI figures as follows: Anand Vihar (331), Ashok Vihar (252), Bawana (248), Chandni Chowk (218), DTU (221), Dwarka-Sector-8 (286), IGI Airport (T3) (260), IIT Delhi (158), ITO (269), Jahangirpuri (274), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (202), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (195), Mundka (290), Narela (232), Nehru Nagar (266), Patparganj (226), Pusa (202), R K Puram (236), Rohini (271), Vivek Vihar (262), and Wazirpur (310).
On Monday, the Supreme Court urged the central government to contemplate relocating coal-based industries away from the Delhi-NCR region and is reviewing a proposal to prohibit coal-based thermal power stations within a 300-km radius of the capital, aiming to promote cleaner air.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has requested responses from the Union Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Power, and Petroleum regarding the potential relocation of coal industries outside Delhi-NCR. This recommendation was put forth by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that light fog and mist are still evident in the mornings, but no significant alerts or warnings have been issued for the day.
According to the latest weather bulletin, most areas in the city will experience primarily clear skies on Tuesday (February 24). Morning fog or mist is possible, but the weather is expected to become pleasant as the day unfolds. Regions including New Delhi, North Delhi, North West Delhi, West Delhi, and South Delhi are anticipated to enjoy clear conditions.
The intense cold snap in the national capital has officially concluded. The minimum temperatures are expected to range from 12 to 14 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures could rise to between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius. This follows a warmer than usual day on Monday, with no rainfall recorded across major weather stations, as per the IMD.