Delhi: Air-quality improves but pollution-level remains 'severe' for 5th day
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Delhi witnessed a decline in its air pollution level on Saturday, but it continued to remain in the "severe" category. Authorities expressed hope that air quality would improve during the day due to dispersion of pollutants.
The pollution level that reached "severe plus" state is slowly reducing due to pollutants' dispersion, Center-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute (SAFAR) said.
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National capital witnesses dip in PM 10 concentration level
According to the data by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PM10 level (presence of particles with a diameter less than 10 micrometers) was recorded at 522 in Delhi-NCR and 529 in Delhi particularly.
The PM10 level had climbed to 778 in Delhi-NCR area and 824 in Delhi on Wednesday, bringing to light that severe pollution could be a "summer-time problem" too.
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PM2.5 level in air decreases
The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) that deteriorated from "very poor" to "severe" has now returned to "very poor" category. It was 124 in Delhi-NCR and Delhi on Saturday, the CPCB data said.
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Dust storms in western India resulted air quality decline
There was a dip in the air quality level on Tuesday due to dust storms in western India, particularly Rajasthan, which increased coarser particles in the air.
But dispersion of pollutants became faster after the local winds picked up speed on Friday which in turn improved the air quality, said Gufran Beig, a SAFAR scientist, adding the air quality is expected to improve further.
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No civil construction activities till Sunday
Meanwhile, the civil construction activities remain halted in New Delhi till Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a cloudy day in the national capital with the possibility of thundershowers.