Delhi weather update: Partly cloudy skies with very light rainfall and thundershowers are expected at a few places in the national capital towards Thursday (May 18) night, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). While the maximum temperature in the city settled at 36.5 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, the minimum was recorded at 21.9 degrees Celsius, five notches below the season's average, it said.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday stood at 149, which falls in the 'moderate' category. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
The relative humidity at 5.30 pm was at 49 per cent, the IMD said in its bulletin.
Meanwhile, after days of scorching heat and prevailing heatwave conditions, rainfall brought respite to some areas of Delhi-NCR today morning. Several parts of Delhi-NCR woke up to heavy rain and thunderstorm today. Delhiites were facing dust storm for the past two days. The national capital also witnessed cloudy skies and strong winds.
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature was at 25.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. The maximum and minimum temperatures on Thursday may hover around 40 and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Environment minister directs officials to step up measures amid spike in AQIOwing to the deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Thursday directed officials to run anti-smog guns throughout the day and sprinkle water at construction and demolition (C&D) sites. The recent bump in the air quality index (AQI) of the national capital was due to strong dust-laden westerly winds from the Thar desert and Pakistan, Rai said at a review meeting with officials of his department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) at the Delhi Secretariat.
"The Kejriwal government has always taken tough steps to curb increasing pollution in Delhi," an official statement quoted Rai as saying. The minister added, "On May 16 and 17, a significant portion of Delhi and NCR was engulfed by dust, causing reduced visibility."
The contribution of dust pollution to PM10 levels rose from 11 per cent during May 1-15 to 65.77 per cent from May 16-17, Rai added. On Tuesday, the DPCC data showed PM10 levels soaring to 3,826 micrograms per cubic metre at Jahangirpuri and 2,565 micrograms per cubic metre at Sri Aurobindo Marg.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM10 levels up to 100 micrograms per cubic metre (for a 24-hour period) are considered safe. "As part of the Summer Action Plan, several departments have deployed 84 mechanical road sweeping machines, 609 water sprinklers, and 185 mobile anti-smog guns throughout Delhi to combat dust pollution,” Rai said.
The new regulations mandate the installation of anti-smog guns on construction sites larger than 5,000 square metres. Previously, they were required only for construction sites larger than 20,000 square metres. All the departments concerned have been asked to constantly monitor construction sites and any violations will result in appropriate action in accordance with the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Delhi Minister said.
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