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New Delhi, Nov 29 : Air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the “very poor” category on Monday, as the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 373, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

In its morning bulletin, SAFAR said, “The AQI today indicates ‘very poor’ air quality. Local surface winds are likely to increase moderately on November 29 and 30, which will escalate the dispersion of pollutants leading to slight improvement, but AQI will remain in the ‘very poor’ category.”

The agency, however, added that from December 1, “the wind speed and temperature are likely to decrease, reducing ventilation and leading to slight deterioration of air quality. Low mixing layer height is preventing efficient dispersion of pollutants. The share of stubble burning related pollutants in Delhi’s PM2.5 is 3 per cent”.

The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 stood at 215 in the ‘very poor’ and 348 in the ‘poor’ category, respectively at around 1000 hrs, as per the agency.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, several areas in the national capital, including ITO, Lodhi Road and Mandir Marg recorded air quality in “very poor to severe” category with an AQI of 420, 367, and 401, respectively, while the AQI at Anand Vihar and Jahangirpuri were in the “severe” category, with an AQI of 449 and 459, respectively.

The neighbouring parts of Delhi also recorded air quality in ‘very poor to severe’ category, with Faridabad recording AQI of 303, Ghaziabad 376, Gurugram 410 and Noida Sector 1 at 372.

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.

Meanwhile, the schools in the national capital opened on Monday for all classes, even though the air quality remained in very poor category.

Earlier this month, the Delhi government had decided to close down the schools on account of high pollution levels in Delhi and it’s adjoining areas.

The Delhi government has also reimposed a ban on construction and demolition activities, following the Supreme Court directions. The ban on entry of diesel and petrol trucks carrying non-essential items will continue till December 3.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a fresh and active Western disturbance was likely to affect the Northwest and adjoining Central India from the night of November 30.

In a series of tweets, the Met Department said, “A fresh active Western Disturbance is likely to affect Northwest & adjoining Central India from the night of November 30, under the influence of this trough in mid-latitude westerlies at mid and upper tropospheric levels and its interaction with lower level trough in easterlies.

“Due to its influence, scattered to fairly widespread rain/thunderstorm are likely over Gujarat, North Maharashtra and adjoining areas of Southwest Madhya Pradesh and South Rajasthan during November 30-December 2,” it added.

Meanwhile in Delhi, the sky will remain clear with the minimum and maximum temperatures likely to hover around 10 and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.

“The relative humidity at 0830 hrs in morning stood at 97 per cent,” said the IMD.

UNI