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Delhi woke up to a blanket of smog on Sunday, with the AQI hitting 303, categorized as ‘very poor’. Key areas like Anand Vihar, ITO, and Ashok Vihar reported thick haze.
Very Poor Air Quality in Delhi Amid Thick Smog
New Delhi: The national capital, Delhi, was once again shrouded in a blanket of smog on Sunday morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached 303 at 9 am, falling into the ‘very poor’ category. Although there was a slight improvement compared to the past few weeks, many parts of the city remained enveloped in toxic smog.
Areas like Anand Vihar and ITO experienced dense smog from the morning, significantly reducing visibility. According to the CPCB, several parts of Delhi were in the ‘very poor’ category. Other major areas such as Ashok Vihar (322), Bawana (352), Burari (318), Chandni Chowk (307), and Dwarka (307) also recorded very high pollution levels, highlighting the severe air pollution situation across the city.
Delhi AQI crosses 400 again, fears of more next week; Why is this?
According to the CPCB, the AQI is measured on a scale of 0-500. 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. These levels have adverse health effects, especially for the elderly, children, and people with heart and lung diseases.
Given the continuously deteriorating air quality, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a statement. This statement came in response to a question from MP Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai, who asked whether every seventh person dies due to the toxic air in Delhi. Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that various studies and research institutions have analyzed the effects of air pollution in Delhi.
Delhi-NCR chokes under ‘Toxic’ air as AQI soars to hazardous levels; Making breathing difficult
The government established the Commission for Air Quality Management in 2021 for the Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas. The commission is working in collaboration with all major stakeholders to control pollution. To date, 95 statutory directions have been issued and the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented, which helps in mitigating pollution during the peak winter months. In addition, stringent emission standards have been enforced for polluting activities in the NCR, and regular review meetings are being held.
The continuously deteriorating air quality in Delhi poses a serious threat to the health of its citizens. While the government and the commission are taking continuous steps, it is essential for people to wear masks when going outdoors and adopt measures to reduce pollution.
