Delhi Chokes as Air Quality Hits 'Very Poor' Levels; GRAP Stage-II Triggered
Delhi's AQI hits 389 as GRAP Stage-II kicks in. Severe pollution levels reported in Rohini and IIT Delhi amid political blame games over stubble burning.
The national capital is once again locked in a battle with toxic air. On Wednesday morning, the Delhi air quality plummeted to a city-wide average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 389, placing it firmly in the 'Very Poor' category according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). While the city average is alarming, several hotspots have crossed into the 'Severe' zone, making the air hazardous for residents.
Severe Hotspots and AQI Breakdown
The pollution is not uniform across the city, with some areas suffering far more than others. According to CPCB data recorded at 8 AM, the most affected zones include:
- IIT Delhi and Rohini: Both recorded a staggering AQI of 474.
- Punjabi Bagh: 465
- RK Puram: 443
- ITO: 422
- Firoz Shah Road: 420
- India Gate: 403
Other areas also reported concerning levels, with Aya Nagar at 393, Chandni Chowk at 391, IGI Airport Terminal 3 at 385, and the Anand Vihar and Akshardham regions at 359.
GRAP Stage-II in Action
In response to the deteriorating conditions, authorities have enforced the Stage-II Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II). As part of these emergency measures, municipal authorities have deployed truck-mounted water sprinklers, particularly around the India Gate area, to settle dust and reduce the concentration of pollutants in the air.
The Human Cost: Residents Speak Out
For the people of Delhi, the numbers translate into physical distress. Sarvesh, a local resident, described the suffocating environment, noting that the smog makes the current weather feel like the peak of January. He reported experiencing anxiety, difficulty breathing, and a burning sensation in his eyes, even during low-traffic morning hours.
Nemichand Sharma, a 71-year-old resident, viewed the crisis as a failure of urban planning and governance. He argued that unchecked development has come at the cost of the environment and claimed that there is a lack of genuine ground-level work to end the pollution cycle, suggesting administrative apathy toward the crisis.
Political Clash Over Stubble Burning
The environmental crisis has sparked a heated political confrontation. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has openly challenged the claims made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding paddy harvesting.
Speaking at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Shastri Park, Sirsa accused the Punjab CM of providing misleading information. While Mann reportedly claimed that paddy harvesting had not yet begun, Sirsa alleged that the Punjab government's own data indicates that 77 per cent of the stubble (parali) has already been burnt, directly impacting the air quality in Delhi.
Weather Outlook
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a morning temperature of 17.8°C with generally clear skies. However, the relief may be short-lived as the IMD forecasts shallow fog over the next four days, which could potentially trap pollutants closer to the ground. This is expected to transition into early morning fog or mist between November 10 and 11.