Delhi’s air quality ‘worse than 2014 winter’

The city did not see a single ‘good’ air quality day this winter, according to official air quality data.

The city did not see a single ‘good’ air quality day this winter, according to official air quality data.

The air quality in Delhi this winter has been officially recorded as being far worse than the 2014 winter period. (AP Photo)

The number of highly polluted days was also higher this year as compared to 2014. Last year, Delhi had 3% days in November and December that saw good or satisfactory air quality. This year, however, not a single day saw breathable air quality.

According to the data, both November and December 2015 show higher number of days in ‘severe’ category, the worst category according to the National Air Quality Index as compared to last year.

November 2015 had 73% days in severe category against 53% in November 2014. December 2015 had 67% days in severe category as against 65% in December 2014.

While scientists from SAFAR, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, have said that the amount of pollutants in the air have come down as compared to last year, the impact they have still makes Delhi highly polluted.

According to Gufran Beig, who heads the SAFAR air quality index, if the odd-even system is not taken into account, the PM 2.5 concentration is expected to increase in the coming three days as a fall in minimum temperature is also expected.

The data was analysed by the Centre for Science and Environment which maintains that vehicles emit some of the worst toxins and toxic gases within our breathing zone.