Noida's air quality persisted in the 'very poor' category for the third consecutive day on Thursday, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 335, a slight increase from Wednesday's 329. This trend of deteriorating air quality has been consistent across the National Capital Region (NCR), with Greater Noida and Ghaziabad also reporting alarming pollution levels.
Air Quality Data Across NCR Cities
In Greater Noida, the AQI shifted marginally to 314 from 320, while Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 359, up from 347 the previous day. Over the last ten days, all three cities have primarily experienced 'very poor' air, with occasional dips into the 'severe' range. Notably, Noida and Ghaziabad's air quality deteriorated to 'severe' last Sunday and Monday, and Greater Noida recorded one 'severe' air day on Sunday.
Detailed Station-Wise AQI Readings
According to data from the Sameer App, all four air monitoring stations in Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality. Sector 125 reported the worst AQI at 363, followed by Sector 116 (AQI 342), Sector 1 (AQI 332), and Sector 62 (AQI 313). In Greater Noida, Knowledge Park V recorded an AQI of 345 in the 'very poor' category, while Knowledge Park III was in the 'poor' range with an AQI of 281.
Ghaziabad's Loni station recorded the highest pollution level in the NCR, with an AQI of 404 in the 'severe' category. Vasundhara (AQI 394) and Indirapuram (AQI 369) also reported 'very poor' air, whereas Sanjay Nagar was in the 'poor' range with an AQI of 295.
CAQM Revokes GRAP Stage-III Measures
Despite the persistently high pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked GRAP Stage-III measures across Delhi-NCR on Thursday. The CAQM sub-committee on GRAP unanimously decided to revoke all actions under Stage III of the extant schedule with immediate effect. This decision was based on the likelihood of the average AQI of Delhi-NCR staying in the 'moderate' to 'poor' category in the coming days.
Weather Conditions and Forecast
Visibility was poor in the morning hours on Thursday, dropping to 700 meters. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) reported that the predominant surface wind came from the south-east direction, with speeds less than 15 kmph during the afternoon. Wind speeds increased to 20 kmph during the evening and night.
For Friday, the forecast predicts a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of light rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds likely during the early hours to forenoon. Shallow to moderate fog is expected during the morning hours. The predominant surface wind is likely to be from the south-east direction, with wind speeds less than 20 kmph in the morning, increasing up to 25 kmph in the afternoon, and decreasing to 10 kmph during the evening and night.
Implications and Context
The revocation of GRAP Stage-III measures has raised questions, given that air pollution levels remain firmly in the 'very poor' or worse categories. It is noteworthy that AQI data was not available on the Central Pollution Control Board portal on Thursday, adding to the uncertainty surrounding air quality monitoring and management in the region.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in combating air pollution in NCR, even as authorities adjust measures based on short-term forecasts. Residents are advised to stay informed about air quality updates and take necessary precautions, especially during periods of high pollution.
