New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) The national capital continued to struggle with hazardous air pollution on Thursday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the ‘very poor’ category despite a slight improvement from previous days. According to official data, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 377, raising concerns over public health and daily life.

Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that pollution levels remained alarmingly high across several parts of the city. The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple area registered an AQI of 377, firmly placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Other prominent locations also reported similarly high readings, with ITO recording an AQI of 331 and the AIIMS area registering 359.

Several pollution hotspots continued to report worrying AQI levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 379, Ashok Vihar 333, and Wazirpur 336. Other areas such as Punjabi Bagh (338), RK Puram (359), Bawana (323), Chandni Chowk (361) and Dwarka Sector 8 (342) also remained in the ‘very poor’ category, according to CPCB data.

On Wednesday, air quality data from the CPCB’s Sameer app indicated that 29 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while nine stations fell under the ‘poor’ category. The widespread nature of pollution highlights the persistent challenge the city faces during the winter season.

In response to fluctuating air quality conditions, the Delhi government on Wednesday announced that parking charges at authorised parking sites would be doubled during periods of severe pollution. This measure will be enforced when the AQI enters the ‘severe’ range (401-450) under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III and ‘severe plus’ levels (above 450) under GRAP Stage IV. The move aims to discourage the use of private vehicles and curb vehicular emissions.

Earlier, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had revoked GRAP Stage IV restrictions in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday, following a marginal improvement in air quality. However, authorities continue to closely monitor pollution levels amid changing weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported moderate to dense fog in several parts of Delhi, further complicating the situation. The city’s temperature hovered around 7.4 degrees Celsius at 7 a.m., adding to the discomfort faced by residents.

The IMD also forecast generally cloudy skies for January 22, with light rain expected over Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region. These showers may be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph. A second spell of light rainfall is likely during the afternoon and evening hours.

Cold wave and dense fog conditions persisted across parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Adampur emerged as the coldest location in the plains, recording a minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius. Reduced visibility due to fog increased the risk of road accidents, while cold wave conditions also continued in parts of Himachal Pradesh.

–IANS

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