The AQI in the daytime read 250 in Noida as compared to Monday’s 266. Similarly, it dropped from 276 to 242 in Greater Noida over the past 24 hours. In Ghaziabad, the AQI was 276 as compared to Monday’s 314.
Temporary sigh of relief to all the locals as the air quality in Noida, Greater Noida and neighbouring city, Ghaziabad improved on Tuesday and Wednesday providing the much-needed breather from high levels of pollution over the past week. The pollution control department cites increase in wind speed as the reason which helped disperse the particulate matter in three cities, resulting in better environment.
Statistics show that during daytime, the Air Quality Index (AQI) read 250 in Noida as compared to Monday’s 266. Similarly, AQI dropped from 276 to 242 in Greater Noida over the past 24 hours. In Ghaziabad, the AQI was 276 as compared to Monday’s 314.
For general understanding, an AQI between 0 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’.
Officials say that though the main reason for the sudden peak in air pollution levels over the past few days was due to winds blowing in from the highly polluted region of Bhiwadi, the increase in wind speed from 5 kmph to 10 kmph over the past 24 hours provided the much needed respite on Tuesday.
They also said the ground-level pollution in all the three cities was brought under control due to mechanized sweeping as well as sprinkling of water at all dusty areas “which are either dug up or under construction”.
To keep the situation better, the authorities concerned have been providing over 50 water tankers since Sunday to sprinkle water on roads.
