New Delhi:

Delhi’s air quality improved significantly on Wednesday, with the AQI nearing the ‘moderate’ category at 211.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 268 in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday.

At 8 am on Wednesday, the AQI was recorded at 211, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

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

Delhi’s air quality has seen consistent improvement this week. The AQI was 273 on Monday and 285 on Sunday.

On Wednesday, 15 of the 39 monitoring stations in the city recorded ‘moderate’ air quality and the remaining recorded ‘poor’ air quality.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, 2.5 notches above the season’s average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The humidity level was 68 per cent at 8.30 am.

The weather department has forecast shallow fog during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 27 degrees Celsius, it said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The air quality index continued to fluctuate between the “severe” and “very poor” categories in Delhi.

The city’s 24-hour average air quality index, recorded until 4 pm on Sunday, was 318 (very poor), improving rom the severe category recorded the previous day when it was 412, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

None of the 38 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI in the severe category on Sunday, compared to 20 stations that recorded severe air quality the previous day, according to the SAMEER app, which provides hourly updates on the National Air Quality Index.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good,” 51-100 “satisfactory,” 101-200 “moderate,” 201-300 “poor,” 301-400 “very poor,” 401-450 “severe,” and above 450 “severe plus.” CPCB data identified PM2.5 as the primary pollutant, with its levels recorded at 138 at 3 pm.

PM2.5 particles, measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller (approximately the width of a human hair), pose significant health risks as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, according to the CPCB.

The Centre’s Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management estimated that vehicular emissions contributed 18.1 per cent to Delhi’s pollution on Sunday. Stubble burning, another major factor, accounted for 19 per cent of Delhi’s pollution on Saturday.

The DSS provides daily estimates for vehicular emissions, while data on stubble burning is typically released the following day.

Delhi’s air quality plunged into the hazardous category last Sunday morning, with the AQI crossing 450 for the first time this season.

It worsened further on Monday, recording the season’s highest average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 495. In response, Stage 4 restrictions under the Supreme Court-mandated Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were implemented across the city to address the escalating air pollution crisis.

According to data, the city’s air quality remained in the severe category from Monday to Wednesday. While there was a slight improvement on Thursday and Friday, it returned to the severe category on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a thick layer of mist and smog blanketed the city during the morning and evening hours, reducing visibility.

The daytime temperature was recorded at 29.1 degrees Celsius, two notches above the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Humidity levels fluctuated between 96 and 76 per cent during the day.

The IMD has forecast moderate fog for Monday, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to be around 28 and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

GRAP-IV, or the fourth stage of anti-pollution measures in effect for Delhi and the National Capital Region, will remain in force for the next 72 hours, the Supreme Court said Friday, with the AQI in the city and surrounding areas at 371, or still in the ‘very poor’ category, this morning.

The court also underlined its intention to retain control of dropping down a level, or even two, in the GRAP, or Graded Response Action Plan, hierarchy; Justice Abhay S Oka said, “What we are suggesting is this… (next) Monday we will examine compliance (of its orders by the Delhi government)… and then we will consider whether to bring it down from GRAP-IV to GRAP-II.”

On Monday the court said GRAP-IV would remain in place even if Delhi’s AQI were to fall below 450, the threshold to enforce fourth stage recommendations. The court had earlier criticised the Delhi government for failing to react quickly enough as air quality in the city deteriorated.

“Why did we wait for the AQI to cross 300? How could you take such a risk?” the bench of Justice Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih thundered. This was days after the Delhi government invoked GRAP-III recommendations hours after saying he would not, at this stage.

The Supreme Court – which hears cases and laments about Delhi’s air quality every year – has been just as critical this year, particularly after the post-Diwali deterioration that is, again, an annual and predictable worsening of AQI after many in the city flout the ban on firecrackers.

In an earlier hearing the court bemoaned the bursting of firecrackers and came down heavily on the government and police, saying “no religion encourages any activity which creates pollution”.

The judges then held the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the cops responsible for lax implementation of that ban on firecrackers, calling their attempts to explain “eyewash”.

In the past week Delhi has woken up daily to frightening blankets of toxic smog (smoke + fog) covering the city, prompting repeated warnings from health experts about increased respiratory illnesses.

The usual range of ‘anti-pollution’ measures have kicked in – staggered office timings, online classes for schools and colleges, and restrictions on older automobiles.

New Delhi:

The Delhi government announced today that 50 per cent of its staff will work from home today as the national capital continues to grapple with severe air pollution. 

Air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR have breached the “severe” threshold, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) consistently above 450 in many areas. This high AQI has activated Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) – the most stringent level aimed at tackling hazardous pollution.

“To reduce pollution, Delhi government has decided to work from home in government offices. 50% of employees will work from home. For its implementation, a meeting will be held with officials at 1 pm today in the Secretariat,” announced Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai. 

Recently, the Delhi government announced staggered office timings for its offices and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).  

प्रदुषण कम करने के लिए दिल्ली सरकार ने सरकारी दफ़्तरो में वर्क फ्रॉम होम का लिया निर्णय

50% कर्मचारी करेंगे घर से काम

इसके इम्पलिमेंटेशन के लिए सचिवालय में आज दोपहर 1 बजे अधिकारियों के साथ होगी बैठक

— Gopal Rai (@AapKaGopalRai) November 20, 2024

A ban has been imposed on BS-IV and older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles (MGVs and HGVs) registered in Delhi, except those providing essential services. Similar bans apply to BS-III petrol vehicles as well.

Schools for Classes 10 to 12 have been temporarily closed to minimise exposure for students.

Last year, the Delhi government collaborated with IIT Kanpur to explore cloud seeding as an emergency measure. Preparations for this year’s operations began in August, but a meeting on this is yet to take place.