BJP’s Minister Harsh Vardhan said, Level of PM is declining

New Delhi: Due to the efforts made by implementing agencies, there is a declining trend in the levels of Particulate Matter at present, indicating an improvement in air quality, Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said. 

“There has been a decline in PM10 values – from 712.1 to 566.6 micrograms and lowering in PM2.5 levels from 480 to 385.7 micrograms at 1400 hrs today”, he said.

He added that with the present trend, it was expected that the decline in PM levels would continue and air quality was likely to fall back in the severe category. He pointed out that the present air quality in Delhi NCR has been in the severe plus category and emergency conditions due to adverse weather conditions because of western disturbances, stubble burning and high levels of relative humidity. 

The Minister said initially the conditions started on November 7, at 0600 hrs and declined to severe category (concentration less than 500 micrograms/m3 for PM10 and less than 300 micrograms/m3 for PM2.5) on November 11 at 1500 hrs. Later, the level went up again because of adverse weather conditions, which was improving now. (UNI)