With a slight relief for the people of Delhi, the city's average Air Quality Index on Friday witnessed a little improvement, taking a step down from the 'very poor' category with an index value recorded at 270.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that the air quality had improved to 'poor' category from the 'very poor' category With a slight improvement in the AQI.
Notably, there was no place in Delhi where the AQI reading was in the 'severe' zone on Sunday.
On Saturday morning, the air quality index was 231 with AQI falling from 300 to 201 under the poor category.
In the recently presented Union Budget the finance minister highlighted several areas of government initiatives which have higher relevance for the poor and vulnerable sections of society. These include the Eklavya scheme for residential students from tribal communities, rural libraries, use of machinery to clean septic tanks to avoid health hazards for workers, more emphasis on millets cultivation and higher allocation for PM Aawaas or the leading housing scheme for the poor. Although details of these initiatives were not spelled out, it is likely that all these will be helpful.
The AQI of Mumbai was measured at 245 on Sunday morning, indicated the 'lower end of poor' and is likely to remain within the limits of 'poor' for the next few days. Delhi on the other hand recorded an Air Quality Index of 245.
The capital witnessed a drop to the severe category for the first time this season due to poor dispersion of pollutants.
An AQI between zero 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`.
Delhi's AQI improved from 'very poor' to 'poor' category as it stood at 235 on Wednesday morning with the level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollutants
