Delhi's Air Quality Improves Marginally; AQI Hits 190 as City Enters 'Moderate' Zone
Delhi's air quality shows marginal improvement with AQI hitting 190. Find out which areas remain in the 'poor' zone and the GRAP Stage-I measures in place.
The national capital has seen a slight reprieve from the choking smog, with the Delhi AQI moderate category being reached on Saturday morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 190 at 8 am, marking a marginal improvement compared to the previous few days.
This shift comes after a period of deteriorating air quality; on Friday morning, the city's AQI stood at 223, and on Thursday, it was recorded at 226. Both these figures placed the city firmly in the 'poor' category.
The Local Divide: Where Air Quality Still Lags
While the overall city average has improved, the air quality remains uneven across different neighborhoods. Several areas continue to struggle with 'poor' air quality, while others have transitioned to 'moderate' levels.
Areas still in the 'Poor' Category:
- Jahangirpuri: 276
- Punjabi Bagh: 251
- R K Puram: 250
- Bawana: 246
- NIH Narela: 244
- Rohini: 239
- North Campus, DU: 229
- IIT Delhi: 227
- Alipur: 258
- Chandni Chowk: 208
- Patparganj: 201
Areas in the 'Moderate' Category:
- JNU: 179
- Anand Vihar: 175
- IGI Airport (T3): 174
- Noida: 189
- Greater Noida: 159
- IGNOU Maidan Garhi: 146
Citizen Perspectives
Some residents have noted the current conditions as manageable. Tushar, a frequent traveler between Delhi and Kanpur, mentioned that the visibility currently seems clear and he does not perceive a major pollution spike, though he anticipates an impact after Diwali fireworks. Similarly, another local named Kamal remarked that the pollution currently feels medium and breathing is relatively easy.
Government Action: GRAP Stage-I Invoked
Despite the marginal improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has already taken preventive action. On Wednesday, Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was invoked across the Delhi-NCR region after a sub-committee review determined that preventive measures were necessary to stop further deterioration.
To support these efforts, the Delhi Traffic Police held an inter-state coordination meeting to streamline the implementation of GRAP Stage-I. Key measures discussed include:
- Diverting buses that do not comply with pollution norms at the borders.
- Enforcing strict vehicle entry restrictions from November 1 to January 31.
- Rigorous checking of pollution certificates.
- Taking steps to curb road dust and pollution arising from construction activities.
Authorities have been directed to ensure these guidelines are implemented in a time-bound manner to maintain air quality and prevent a slide back into more severe categories.
Understanding the AQI Scale
To put these numbers in perspective, the CPCB categorizes air quality as follows:
- 0 - 50: Good
- 51 - 100: Satisfactory
- 101 - 200: Moderate
- 201 - 300: Poor
- 301 - 400: Very Poor
- 401 - 500: Severe