Delhi’s air quality has reached alarming levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 331 on Tuesday morning, categorizing the air as ‘very poor’ just days before Diwali. This deterioration marks the worst air quality the city has experienced in 271 days, with the average AQI rising sharply from 261 on Sunday to 324 on Monday.
Of the 58 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, eight reported pollution levels in the ‘severe’ category, including areas like Bawana, Narela, and Punjabi Bagh. The station at IGNOU in Maidangarhi was the only one reporting moderate air quality. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant at 53 stations, with PM10 leading at five others.
The worsening air quality is compounded by agricultural fires from neighboring states. Satellite data recorded 1,561 farm fires in Punjab and Haryana from October 1 to November 2, with 167 detected on the latter date alone. Punjab accounted for the majority with 1,406 incidents, while Haryana had 155.
In response to the escalating pollution, authorities have implemented Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. This includes measures such as staggering office timings for government and municipal employees in Delhi and surrounding areas like Gurugram and Faridabad. Additionally, parking fees are being increased to discourage the use of private vehicles.
Resident welfare associations have been advised to provide electric heaters to security personnel to prevent open burning during colder hours, further aiming to mitigate air pollution. These efforts reflect the urgent need for proactive measures as the city braces for further deterioration in air quality with the approaching festival season.