Air Quality In Delhi Dips To 'Poor' Category, AQI Above 250 In Some Parts

Delhi's air quality witnessed a rapid decline on Friday due to the annual confluence of factors, including a decrease in temperatures, diminished wind speed, and the resurgence of farm fires in neighboring states. This triggered an emergency meeting and rolling out of the initial pollution control measures.

According to the bulletin issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Friday recorded a value of 212, categorising Delhi's air quality as "poor." Just 24 hours earlier, the air quality had been significantly better, falling within the "moderate" category with an AQI of 177.

In Anand Vihar, the AQI was at 278, i.e. in the 'poor' category, whereas in the IGI Airport (T3) area, the AQI was at 212 at 9 am. Pollution levels at Anand Vihar in east Delhi was recorded at PM10. Meanwhile, the air quality was in the ' very poor' category near Bawana area with AQI at 322.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe.

As the AQI entered the "poor" category, the first phase of the government's Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) was activated. This empowers authorities to enforce a range of measures, including the suspension of unregistered construction sites, imposition of strict penalties on visibly polluting vehicles, and heightened Pollution Under Control (PUC) inspections, among other actions.

For the first time in 114 days, the air quality in the city dipped into the "poor" category on Friday, a situation last observed on June 14 when the AQI stood at 213.

Experts have warned that the situation is likely to deteriorate as winter approaches and the burning of paddy in agricultural states like Punjab and Haryana increases. This seasonal deterioration is a familiar occurrence for Delhi residents.

Annually, as October marks the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon and the shift of wind direction to northwesterly cold and dry winds, along with a drop in temperatures, the city's air quality typically deteriorates.

On Friday, the initial phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) was put into action. This empowers relevant authorities to shut down any construction and demolition (C&D) site larger than 500 square meters that isn't registered with the government.

Moreover, various other measures have been initiated, such as deploying traffic police at congested intersections, encouraging power distribution companies to reduce power interruptions, and conducting regular mechanized cleaning and water spraying on Delhi's roadways.

According to a sub-committee of the CAQM (Central Pollution Control Board), forecasts suggest that the air quality is likely to remain in the "poor" category throughout the weekend.

"The dynamic model and meteorological forecasts by these agencies predict the overall AQI of Delhi will stay in the 'poor' category in the next couple of days, and so it is considered necessary to invoke Stage-I of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR," stated the CAQM.