Delhi’s Air Quality Plummets to Hazardous Levels as Pollution Worsens
Delhi’s air quality has sharply declined, with areas such as Anand Vihar registering an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 600, reflecting the worst pollution levels of the season. As of 8 am on Monday, the city’s overall air quality stood at a concerning 317.
According to data from IQair, the concentration of PM2.5 particles in the air is currently 59 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organization, posing serious health risks, including damage to the lungs and brain due to prolonged exposure.
The AQI scale classifies air quality as follows: ‘poor’ is an AQI between 200 and 300, ‘very poor’ is between 301 and 400, ‘severe’ is from 401 to 450, and anything above 450 is categorized as ‘severe-plus,’ signifying a critical health hazard for residents.
AQI Levels Across Delhi at 8 am on Monday:
- Anand Vihar: 627 (Hazardous)
- Alipur: 388 (Hazardous)
- Punjabi Bagh: 319 (Hazardous)
- Narela: 372 (Hazardous)
- RK Puram: 268 (Very Poor)
- Bawana: 368 (Hazardous)
- ITI Shahdara: 408 (Hazardous)
Delhi Government’s Action on Pollution
In response to the escalating pollution crisis, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the deployment of around 200 mobile anti-smog guns across the city to reduce dust pollution. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Rai emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling pollution from various sources, including dust, vehicle emissions, and biomass burning.
The mobile anti-smog guns will operate in three shifts of eight hours, spraying water across every assembly constituency to help lower dust levels. Rai reassured that teams are consistently working on efforts to reduce pollution from all sources.
Decline in Stubble Burning Contributes to Improved Air Quality
Notably, Delhi’s air quality has improved somewhat since Diwali, largely due to a significant reduction in stubble burning. On Saturday, stubble burning was responsible for just 15 percent of Delhi’s pollution, a sharp decline from over 35 percent the day before. This reduction points to other contributing factors to the city’s deteriorating air quality.
