Delhi forecast to begin 2016 with lower pollution

PUNE: Although air quality on the first day of 2016 will continue to remain very poor in Delhi, it will be much better as compared to the first day of 2015 thanks to a lower proportion of PM 2.5 particles.

Weather conditions will continue to favour lower pollution but vehicular emissions will play a major role in deciding the air quality as it enters a new year. As compared to 228 micro gram per cubic metre on January 1, 2015, the most harmful PM 2.5 pollution particles are expected to remain at 152 micro gram per cubic metre on the first day of next year.

“It appears that the air quality in the coming three days entering into 2016 is going to be relatively much better in which level of PM10 is going to touch a new low (better) of the season towards ‘moderate’,” said Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR (System for Air quality and Weather Forecasting and Research).

The PM 2.5 particles, mainly coming from vehicular emissions, continue to remain the lead pollutant in Delhi for past two months. “The level of PM 2.5 is also at its low but continues to remain in the ‘very poor’ category as per the recent Indian air quality guidelines,” said Beig.

With relatively higher temperature, cleaner and lighter winds, not very high humidity for smog to form, the weather condition is likely to be favourable to keep the PM level at its low for the next three days.