Delhi: Pollution Levels Lowest In 7 Years But Air Quality Dips To 'Very Poor' Day After Diwali. Key Points

Meanwhile, 150 mobile anti-smog guns have been taken off the streets since Tuesday to sprinkling water in Delhi.

Jama Masjid shrouded in a thick layer of smog, a day after Diwali celebrations, in New Delhi (Source: PTI)

A day after Diwali, on Tuesday, Delhi recorded "very poor" air quality after residents flouted the ban on firecrackers in many parts of the national capital on Diwali night, as reported by the news agency PTI. But thanks to the favourable meteorological conditions that diluted the effect of the fireworks and stubble burning and the pollution level in Delhi was recorded lowest in the last seven years. 

Meanwhile, 150 mobile anti-smog guns have been taken off the streets since Tuesday to sprinkle water in Delhi. Spraying will be done with two mobile anti-smog guns in all 70 assemblies of Delhi.

Here Are The Key Points To Know About The Situation In Delhi/NCR

- The neighbouring cities of Ghaziabad (266), Noida (299), Greater Noida (272), Gurugram (292) and Faridabad (289) reported "poor" air quality.

- Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that pollution levels in the national capital were the lowest this year in five years post-Diwali, reported news agency PTI. The minister said that there was a thirty per cent decrease in the bursting of firecrackers in the city and added that “people are becoming aware”. 

- The city reported a 24-hour average AQI of 259 on Sunday evening, the lowest for the day before Diwali in seven years, PTI reported. 

- In view of the increasing pollution, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has already been implemented in Delhi-NCR. In view of the increasing level of pollution, the second phase of GRAP has been implemented. Apart from construction work, restrictions have been imposed on many other activities. There was a ban on bursting firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi, yet firecrackers were burnt.

- As per the data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Delhi during last year’s Diwali was 382, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016.

- The air quality monitoring stations at Alipur, Narela, Sonia Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Sir Aurobindo Marg, JNL Stadium, Karni Singh Shooting Range, Dwarka Sector 8, Mundka, Wazirpur, Okhla, Bawana, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and RK Puram reported more than 50 per cent decline in PM2.5 pollution on Diwali night, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee data showed.

An AQI of zero to 50 is regarded as "good," 51 to 100 as "satisfactory," 101 to 200 as "moderate," 201 to 300 as "poor," 301 to 400 as "very poor," and 401 to 500 as "severe."