<p class="title">Delhi's air quality remained "very poor" for the second day this season, with several areas in the national capital nearing "severe" levels of pollution, according to the authorities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 315, same as Wednesday, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded very poor air quality.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PM2.5 (presence in the air of particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) touched a new high at 158, even as the authorities said it could increase further.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PM2.5, also called "fine particulates," is a more serious health concern than PM10.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An AQI between 0 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".</p>.<p class="bodytext">A senior Central Pollution Control Board official said the situation is being monitored and depending upon the quality more stringent measures like increase of parking fees and a complete ban on construction activities would be imposed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are hoping that with a slight improvement in meteorological conditions, the air quality would improve. But if it doesn't, we would impose stringent measures," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Thursday, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 315, Dwarka Sector 8 369, ITO 256, Jahangirpuri 337 and Rohini 368, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PM10 level (presence in the air of particles with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 297 and the PM 2.5 level was recorded at 140, according to the CPCB data.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Further deterioration of air quality has been forecast for the coming days with the PM10 level reaching 332 and the PM2.5 level 158.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The data released by the CPCB shows that the air quality in the last three years has not improved much but officials also said a clear picture would emerge by end of this month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A CPCB official said a number of factors were responsible for the deteriorating air quality, including vehicular pollution and construction activities.</p>
<p class="title">Delhi's air quality remained "very poor" for the second day this season, with several areas in the national capital nearing "severe" levels of pollution, according to the authorities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 315, same as Wednesday, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded very poor air quality.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PM2.5 (presence in the air of particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) touched a new high at 158, even as the authorities said it could increase further.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PM2.5, also called "fine particulates," is a more serious health concern than PM10.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An AQI between 0 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".</p>.<p class="bodytext">A senior Central Pollution Control Board official said the situation is being monitored and depending upon the quality more stringent measures like increase of parking fees and a complete ban on construction activities would be imposed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are hoping that with a slight improvement in meteorological conditions, the air quality would improve. But if it doesn't, we would impose stringent measures," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Thursday, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 315, Dwarka Sector 8 369, ITO 256, Jahangirpuri 337 and Rohini 368, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PM10 level (presence in the air of particles with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 297 and the PM 2.5 level was recorded at 140, according to the CPCB data.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Further deterioration of air quality has been forecast for the coming days with the PM10 level reaching 332 and the PM2.5 level 158.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The data released by the CPCB shows that the air quality in the last three years has not improved much but officials also said a clear picture would emerge by end of this month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A CPCB official said a number of factors were responsible for the deteriorating air quality, including vehicular pollution and construction activities.</p>