Air quality has further dropped in the national capital with major pollutants PM 2.5 at 177 and PM 10 at 122 in the 'Unhealthy' category, in areas around Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and India Gate. This, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data.
The overall Air Quality Index in Delhi on Thursday was recorded at 312.
Area wise AQI: Mathura road - 314, Delhi university- 322, Aayanagar - 315, Chandni Chowk - 339, Airport - 307, Lodhi road - 307
In the National Capital Region: Noida - 329, Gurugram- - 323
On Wednesday, the air quality remained poor throughout with a layer of dust and smoke engulfing the national capital. Monuments like India Gate, Akshardham temple and Parliament were covered in haze.
Also Read: Delhi air quality further degrades, Govt releases NASA images of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana
The GRAP, which came into force on Tuesday, proactively rolled out stricter measures depending on the need to discourage private vehicles on roads, stop the entry of trucks, use of diesel generators and closing brick kilns and stone crushers.
The plan was launched keeping in view the sudden spike in pollution level across the Delhi- NCR region.
There are six AQI categories -- Good (0-50), Satisfactory (50-100), Moderate (100-200), Poor (200-300), Very Poor (300-400) and Severe (400-500).
In a report released recently, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) claimed that stubble burning is responsible for only 10 per cent of the city's pollution and asserted that no agency has the "specific machinery" to measure either the component or the causes of pollution.
While referring to the data released by SAFAR on stubble burning, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the reports misleading and said that "guessing games" should be stopped. The agencies should behave more responsibly about the figures and data they share, he added
Arvind Kejriwal said that no agency has exact data on pollution and everyone is guessing on the issue. "A proper system is needed to keep track of pollution," he said.