Capital air quality gets better due to wind speed

New Delhi: Delhiites heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday as the city’s air quality showed a slight improvement due to increased wind speed and settled in the poor category. The Central Pollution Control Board  data  showed overall air quality index at 282 which falls in poor category.

While eleven areas in Delhi recorded very poor air quality, 24 places recorded poor air quality, according to the data. The level of PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 135 and the PM10 level was recorded at 273, it said.

The city’s air quality has been registered in the very poor category since last week and on Wednesday some areas even recorded severe pollution level.

Meanwhile, a task force led by a CPCB official on Thursday recommended a ban on industrial and construction activities in major pollution “hotspots” here if the air quality turns severe.

The task force, also comprising members from the India Meteorological Department, the Delhi Pollution Control Board and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, met here to review the status of ambient air quality of the national capital.