Delhi air quality remains 'very poor'

New Delhi [India], Oct 29 (ANI): Delhi, on Monday, continued to choke on 'very poor' air quality as the city woke up to a thick, pale haze. 
According to the data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at an alarming 348.
The AQI between 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 fall under the category of 'satisfactory', 101-200 is marked as 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 500 and beyond is considered as 'severe'.
Health experts say the 'very poor' air quality can lead to respiratory illness, especially among children and elderly people, on prolonged exposure. Weather conditions over the next few days, to an extent, are expected to play an important role in deciding which way the city's pollution will go. 
Indian Meteorological Department and Ministry of Earth Science have predicted that Delhi-Safdarjung area will record a minimum temperature of 15 degree Celsius and maximum temperature of 32 degree Celsius with a misty weather.
According to the government-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), pollution will not get into the 'severe' bracket but will hover in the upper levels of "very poor" category. 
Stubble-burning in adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana is a major contributor to air pollution in the National Capital Region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday urged farmers to do away with the practice. 
The Prime Minister made the request by sharing two anecdotes, one of a farmer, Gurucharan Singh, who not only gave up the practice but also urged his relatives to do so for the welfare of the society.
Over the past few years, stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana has become a major contributor to air pollution in the capital. Despite ban on stubble burning, farmers continue to burn paddy straw claiming that they lack feasible alternatives. (ANI)