With winter chills setting in and around the national capital, Delhiites continued to breathe toxic air on Thursday with air quality edging closer to the severe mark in some areas. The average air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded as 'very poor' at 366, according to readings recorded by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology at 5:30 in the morning.
The capital city's 24-hour average AQI, recorded until 4 pm daily was reported at 352 on Wednesday, the third highest in the country after Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar (369) and Hanumangarh (396).
The AQI levels in the areas surrounding the national capital also remained in the 'poor' category, though still better than Delhi. In Haryana's Gurugram, the AQI was recorded at 293, while in Faridabad, it stood at 237, according to the data issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per the data, the AQI in Uttar Pradesh's Noida stood at 265, while in Ghaziabad, it was 281.
The AQI scale categorises air quality into six levels: 0-50 is 'good,' 51-100 is 'satisfactory,' 101-200 is 'moderate,' 201-300 is 'poor,' 301-400 is 'very poor,' and 401-500 is 'severe.' The AQI, when under the ‘poor’ category, can cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure, whereas, when under the ‘very poor’ category, it can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, according to CPCB.
AQI levels in various areas In Delhi on Monday as of 2:30 am
- Jahangirpuri - 428 (SEVERE)
- Mundka - 417 (SEVERE)
- NSIT Dwarka - 383 (VERY POOR)
- New Moti Bagh - 390 (VERY POOR)
- Rohini - 405 (SEVERE)
- Shadipur - 390 (VERY POOR)
- Sonai Vihar - 399 (VERY POOR)
- Vivek Vihar - 408 (SEVERE)
- Narela - 382 (VERY POOR)
- Nehru Nagar - 386 (VERY POOR)
- Patpadgunj - 391 (VERY POOR)
- Wazirabad - 427 (SEVERE)
- Anand Vihar - 426 (SEVERE)
- Ashok Nagar - 417 (SEVERE)
- Bawana - 411 (SEVERE)
Delhi's Govt Says 'Good Air' Days Increased
The Delhi government has submitted an action-taken report on air pollution to the National Green Tribunal, saying the air quality index showing "good days" between January and October in the city increased from 157 in 2018 to 201 in 2024. Good days are a cumulative of days where the AQI has been recorded as good, satisfactory and moderate.
The report said "specific mitigation action" was being taken at the 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi.
On October 24, the NGT while hearing the matter regarding the deteriorating air quality in the national capital, necessitating the invoking of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), directed the Delhi government to file its report. "With consistent efforts from stakeholder departments, good days have increased from 157 in 2018 to 206 in 2023 from January to October. This year till October 29, there have been 201 good days," said the report submitted on Monday.
It said a 21-point winter action plan with around 30 government stakeholder departments was being implemented to mitigate air pollution in the winter months.
Delhi's Winter Pollution
During the winter months, Delhi and surrounding areas experience severe pollution, driven by a combination of factors, such as low wind speeds, dropping temperatures, high moisture levels and the presence of pollution particles that act as surfaces for condensation.