Delhi's Air Quality Slightly Improves Post Diwali, Still Remains In 'Poor' Category

Delhi's air quality improved slightly post-Diwali, recording a "poor" AQI of 294.

Delhi air quality was in 'poor' category on Saturday.

Source : PTI

The overall air quality in Delhi showed a slight improvement two days after the festival of Diwali. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the national capital recorded air quality in the "poor" category with an Air Quality Index of 294. 

On Friday, the city's air quality was in the "very poor" category with AQI at 359 despite a comprehensive ban on firecrackers. 

Several areas saw bursting of firecrackers including Lajpat Nagar, Kalkaji, Chhatarpur, Jaunapur, East of Kailash, Saket, Rohini, Dwarka, Punjabi Bagh, Vikas Puri, Dilshad Garden, and Burari. 

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

Station	AQI
Alipur	295
Anand Vihar	380
Ashok Vihar	325
Bawana	312
Burari Crossing	314
DTU	258
Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range	263
Dwarks Sector-8	308
IGI Airport (T3)	341
IBHAS, Dilshad Garden	268
ITO	247
Jahangirpuri	301
Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium	284
Lodhi Road	238
Dhyan Chand Stadium	378
Mandir Marg	302
Mundka	286
NSIT Dwarka	294
Najafgarh	254
Narela	250
Nehru Nagar	250
North Campus, DU	228
Okhla Phase-2	310
Patparganj	314
Punjabi Bagh	335
Pusa	267
RK Puram	346
Rohini	304
Shadipur	292
Siri Fort	305
Sonia Vihar	328
Sri Aurobindo Marg	233
Vivek Vihar	323
Wazirpur	321

 

*Figures according to Air Quality Warning and Decision Support System For Delhi under Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology as of 7 am.

On Friday, Delhi's pollution board claimed that the air quality index did not show any significant change this Diwali, even after many flouted pollution norms.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee released a report stating that the PM2.5 levels decreased by 4 per cent as compared to Diwali last year, reported PTI. While the PM10 levels, consisting of particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or less in diameter, increased by 11 per cent.

PM2.5 are fine particulate matter that can be inhaled which can pose a greater health risk. 

However, data by CPCB claimed that Delhi recorded its most polluted Diwali in three years. On Thursday, the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 330, compared to 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022.

According to the report, most monitoring stations in Delhi mirrored similar pollution levels with 37 of the 39 reporting air quality in the 'very poor' category. However, various pollution control efforts implemented across the city avoided a severe spike, it added.