New Delhi: As the Diwali week begins, Delhi’s overall air quality on Monday morning was better than the previous day, but still in the ‘very poor’ category, which is hazardous for health. The national capital recorded a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 264 at 6 am, almost 90 points down from yesterday’s AQI. However, the Delhi AQI still falls in the “very poor” category, the data revealed.
In Delhi’s Defence Colony, the air quality index figure was recorded at 324 indicating a rising trend in the pollution levels in the national capital. The AQI is likely to take a turn for the worse as Diwali celebrations will begin from Monday across the National Capital Region. (NCR)
As stubble burning continued in parts of Punjab and Haryana, the pollution in Delhi plummeted to ‘very poor’ levels on Sunday. Several areas in the city recorded AQI in the ‘severe’ category creating concerns for the national capital ahead of Diwali.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI rose to 355 at 4 pm on Sunday, up from 255 on Saturday. Data from 37 of the city’s 40 monitoring stations showed that air quality in Bawana, Burari, and Jahangirpuri had reached ‘severe’ levels.
Neighbouring areas like Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Noida also registered ‘very poor’ air quality, while Faridabad and Gurugram recorded ‘poor’ levels.
Given below is how Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ranks air quality.
Air Quality Comparison With October 2023
Meanwhile in October 2023, AQI during October 2023 was recorded at 219, slightly higher than the daily average. Despite this heavy rainfall deficit and low wind speeds, the daily average, AQI of 210 during October, 2022.
Delhi has also witnessed highest number of days (206) with “Good” to “Moderate” air quality (Daily Average AQI<200) during January – October 2023 as compared to the corresponding period in the previous years (barring the COVID affected 2020).
“Good” to “Moderate” days during this period in the previous years were only 160 in 2022, 197 in 2021, 175 in 2019 and 157 in 2018 respectively. This period in 2023 has also witnessed a remarkable reduction in daily avg. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations over the last 6 years.
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