The air quality in Noida witnessed a marginal but significant improvement on Sunday, moving out of the 'severe' category and back into the 'very poor' band after two consecutive days of hazardous pollution levels. This shift brought a slight respite to residents of the National Capital Region (NCR), although the air remains dangerously unhealthy.
NCR Cities Record Mixed Trends
According to the latest data, Noida's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to 327 on Sunday, marking a notable decline from the severe level of 401 recorded the previous day. Its neighboring city, Greater Noida, also saw a slight improvement, with its AQI settling at 329, down from 344. However, both cities firmly remained within the 'very poor' range, indicating continued health risks for the public.
In contrast, Ghaziabad recorded a slight uptick in pollution levels. The city's AQI rose to 364 from 361, keeping it in the 'very poor' category. The capital city, Delhi, was no better off, with an AQI of 377 (very poor) recorded at 4 PM on Sunday.
Monitoring Stations Paint a Detailed Picture
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provided a granular view of the pollution spread. In Delhi, out of 39 active monitoring stations, the AQI was above 400 (severe) at 13 stations. Ayanagar was the sole station to record a 'poor' reading of 293.
In Noida, Sector 116 (AQI 356) and Sector 62 (AQI 347) stations both recorded 'very poor' air. Sector 1 fared slightly better with an AQI of 279 in the 'poor' range. Greater Noida's Knowledge Park V (AQI 351) and Knowledge Park III (AQI 307) also reported 'very poor' conditions.
Ghaziabad's Vasundhara emerged as a major hotspot, recording an AQI of 411 in the 'severe' range. This was followed by Sanjay Nagar (AQI 355) and Indirapuram (AQI 325), both in the 'very poor' band.
Forecast and Meteorological Factors
Initially, forecasts had predicted that the AQI would remain in the 'severe' range (above 400) on Sunday and Monday. However, the Centre's Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi later revised its prediction, stating that the air quality is likely to hover within the 'very poor' band until at least Wednesday.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) reported that the predominant surface wind on Sunday was from the east-southeast direction, with speeds of up to 10 kmph during the afternoon, continuing through the evening and night. For Monday, the forecast predicts a partly cloudy sky with moderate to dense fog in the morning. Winds are expected to come from the west at up to 10 kmph in the morning, increasing to 15 kmph from the northwest during the afternoon and persisting into the night.
While the marginal improvement offers a brief sigh of relief, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the NCR battles its annual winter pollution crisis.
