Reliance Jio customers will have to pay 15%more for its popular 84-day plan, at Rs 459 from Thursday, under which subscribers get 1GB 4G data at high speed per day, according to information on the firm’s website. However, subscribers to the Rs 149 plan will get 4GB of data for each billing cycle of 28 days compared to 2GB. P23 nest — Diwali in recent years on Thursday.
The city’s air quality was “very poor” for the second straight day. However, with expectations of a substantial reduction in fireworks following the Supreme Court’s ban on cracker sales, most scenarios drawn up by experts show the city will most likely escape the severe levels of pollution synonymous with Diwali and postDiwali air in the capital in the past few years.
Experts do expect a drop in Delhi’s air quality as compared to Wednesday’s AQI of 302, which just touched the “very poor” category, as firecrackers add to the toxic mix of pollutants on Diwali.
Even a 40-50% reduction in fireworks from 2016 levels will keep Delhi’s AQI below the “severe” range, experts said. The pre-Diwali AQI as compared to last year also shows an improved picture this time around.
The deterioration in air quality in the past few days has been attributed to weather conditions — windy and slightly humid — and an increase in traffic due to Diwali rush.
Instances of firecrackers being burst around Delhi, however, have been few ever since SC’s direction to ban sale and purchase of firecrackers.
For this time of the year, Delhi’s air quality has been worse as compared to last year. Pollution levels have been in the “poor” and “very poor” category between October 11 and October18, 2017. During this period last year, the highest AQI was recorded on October 18 with a reading of 285. This year, it has reached 306.
“Weather conditions are playing a key role with calm winds and an increase in moisture content allowing particulate matter to not disperse easily. Firecrackers have not been burst before Diwali this time, however the particulate matter from other emissions is getting trapped in the air,” said a senior CPCB official.
Sunita Narain, member of EPCA, attributed the rise in pollution to both weather condition and an increased load on the road in terms of vehicles for Diwali. “People are commuting a lot on their private vehicles this Diwali. This has caused traffic jams and high pollution levels,” she said.
EPCA has forecast ‘smog’ like conditions for two days post-Diwali, owing to weather conditions with moisture laden winds from UP. Experts say this will result in the particulate matter being trapped and will stay localised — with low wind speed not allowing particulate matter to disperse.
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