Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) showed improvement but stayed in the “poor” range, as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported a lower AQI of 273 at 8 am on Monday.
For the second day in a row, the air quality in the national capital was categorized as poor, reflecting an improvement from the “very poor” levels noted on Saturday, when the AQI was at 377. On Sunday evening at 4 pm, according to CPCB data, the AQI registered at 285.
Delhi Weather
Compounding the confusion, this winter has been slower to show up this year. Even though it’s December, temperatures in Delhi have stayed abnormally elevated. Both October and November experienced higher-than-normal temperatures, with the lowest temperature remaining above the average range. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the city will start to notice a sharper decline in temperature from approximately December 11th or 12th, indicating the onset of the chilly winter season.
AQI Across Delhi
At 8 am, information from various monitoring stations revealed alarming hotspots in the air quality of Delhi. ITO noted an AQI of 267, Patparganj 286, Chandni Chowk 186, and Vivek Vihar 290. Certain areas reported an AQI surpassing 300, categorizing the air quality as ‘very poor’. For example, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 297, Nehru Nagar 335, RK Puram 304, and Shadipur 234.
AQI Measures
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that the AQI levels at 6 am on Monday were 303 in Anand Vihar, 284 in Ashok Vihar, 298 in Bawana, 188 in Chandni Chowk, 270 at IGI Airport, 307 in Dwarka, 310 in Jahangirpuri, 297 in Mundka, 266 in Narela, 334 in Nehru Nagar, 285 in Patparganj, 278 in Punjabi Bagh, 249 in Pusa, 299 in Rohini, and 281 in Wazirpur. The CPCB categorizes AQI levels from 0-50 as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 as ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 as ‘poor’, 301-400 as ‘very poor’ and anything exceeding 400 as ‘severe’.
Grap Stage-IV Restrictions
The Supreme Court has maintained Stage-IV restrictions based on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), implementing strict anti-pollution actions. In response to worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had earlier directed all schools in Delhi-NCR to implement a hybrid learning model for students up to grade 12, combining in-person and online instruction.
