Delhi Air Quality Archives - Lokmarg

Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates To ‘Poor’ Again

By LokMarg 12th December 2024

Delhi’s air quality has once again taken a turn for the worse, dropping to “poor” at 7 am today, December 12. This decline follows a moderate air quality reading, on average, over the past 24 hours, with a reading taken at 4 pm on December 11. Unfortunately, Delhi has been grappling with severe air pollution for the past month.

The average air quality of Delhi as per the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) AQI index was 259 and has been categorised as ‘poor’.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s air quality levels were recorded at 274 in Punjabi Bagh, 282 in Rohini, and 289 in RK Puram. Other areas such as Major Dhyan Chand Station reported an AQI of 245, Najafgarh recorded 224, Nehru Nagar had 310, and North Campus, DU, had 206.

Delhi’s Air Quality improved to moderate at 4pm on Wednesday after it remained in the ‘poor’ category on Wednesday morning.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked the stringent GRAP Stage IV and III restrictions in Delhi-NCR, following the Supreme Court’s permission to relax these restrictions to GRAP Stage II. This decision comes after the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR showed significant improvement, with the average AQI reading dropping to 165, categorized as ‘moderate’.

As a result, several restrictions imposed under Stage 4 have been lifted, including the ban on diesel-run medium and heavy vehicles (BS-IV or below) registered in Delhi, except those carrying essential goods. However, restrictions under GRAP Stage II will remain in force, including a ban on the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors at hotels, restaurants, and open eateries.

The CAQM will continue to monitor the air quality and may reinstate stricter measures if the AQI levels deteriorate. Citizens are advised to strictly adhere to the citizen charter and take necessary precautions to minimize pollution. (ANI)

‘Delhi-NCR Air Is Slow-Poisoning Our Lives But We Are Helpless’

By LokMarg 10th November 2024

Priyanka Gupta, a communication expert and an independent writer, shares her views on the worsening AQI levels in Delhi-NCR as the deadly season returns. Her views:

What is it like living with high pollution levels? Well, for those living in Delhi-NCR it is a nightmare that returns every year during winter months. Being used to it, people now seldom complain about increasing levels of pollution but never deny its impact on their health. There was a time when the morning routine of most Delhiites began with sipping a cup of hot coffee and enjoying early morning fog and conversations (especially in winter) at home but as the city progressed in the last decade, waking up with your smart phone to check the AQI (Air Quality Index) of your surroundings and the region has become the norm.

I never realised that severe pollution levels can actually change someone’s lifestyle until it hit us badly. Training the kids to wear face masks, ensuring availability of a nebuliser, room purifiers, keeping windows and doors closed – was never part of our life. We moved back to Delhi in 2022, after seven years of our work in a two-tier city.

Being Delhiites, we knew that pollution levels in Delhi are high but we never gave any serious thought to it. But as we began settling here, it seemed like a new city with nothing but smog, pollution, haziness and dust all around. The schools requested us to keep kids at home due to severe pollution levels especially during festivals and if we moved out, the kids would come back coughing, itchy eyes and shortness of breath.

ALOS READ: I Left Delhi To Protect My Family From Chronic Sickness

We were trying to come to terms with it but then I observed that my husband would keep coughing after returning from office. With this came the scary part – he would have sneezing bouts that lasted long and to an extent that his nose would start bleeding. We thought it was some weather change allergy and took some medication. Later when he would travel out of Delhi for work, his sneezing and coughing would be under control without medication. But then, this started happening frequently. On consultation, the physician informed us that his age-old asthma had recurred due to pollution which was also causing sinusitis.

And then we started talking about it. We got to know of so many other people who were having sleepless nights coughing, wheezing, not being able to talk, having trouble climbing stairs, teary eyes, struggling to catch some breath and finding it difficult to manage minor chores in the daily routine. Pollution was playing havoc with our lives. The air we breathe is toxic and hazardous.

Shifting back to another city is neither the choice nor an option. The government will keep passing the buck from farm fires to absence of right policies or lack of mechanisms to control it. Hence, one has to learn to sail through troubled waters. Some small steps can reduce asthma attacks such as wearing a face mask, working out at home especially doing breathing exercises, inhaling steam before sleeping, managing travel time to office (half an hour early before peak hours will be immensely helpful), not missing on carrying an asthma puff and most importantly never hesitating to seek help if required.

Pollution levels in Delhi are not set to come down nor does the issue seem to be resolved but a small step from our end can help us in managing the same. Corporate houses are promoting car pools. The way to live is to go green in whatever way we can.

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As told to Deepa Gupta

Delhi Air Quality Remains In ‘Severe’ Category

By LokMarg 11th January 2023

The air quality of the national capital continued to be “severe” on Wednesday with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 421.

Already reeling under a cold wave since the beginning of the New Year, residents in the national capital on Wednesday woke up to another chilly and polluted morning.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the AQI recorded in the Lodhi Road area on Wednesday morning was 410. At Mathura Road, the AQI was 488 while at Pusa, it was recorded at 425. Air quality in the Delhi University area was also in the “Severe” category with AQI at 410.

The AQI around Delhi airport was 434 on Wednesday morning.

Safdarjung base station in the national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 5.9 degrees Celsius this morning. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the visibility in the Palam area was recorded at 100 meters.

According to the weather forecaster IMD, Delhi experienced the third worst cold spell in the last 23 years and warned that from January 14 there will be a second spell of cold in the national capital.

Speaking to ANI, IMD scientist RK Jenamani said, “A cold spell means the number of days we experienced which is in the range of 5 to 6 days. A similar situation was there in the year 2006 when we had the lowest temperature of 1.9 degrees Celsius. In 2013 also, we had a similar cold spell, and January 3-9 was the third worst cold spell in the last 23 years.”

IMD has also predicted rain, drizzle, and snowfall on January 12, and a second spell of cold spell on January 14.

Jenamani said that there will be light rain or drizzle in states like Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Western UP, and North Rajasthan.

“For the Himalayan states like Jammu and Kashmir mainly Kashmir, we expect heavy rain or snow on January 12. We expect rain or snowfall in Himachal and Uttarakhand between January 11-14,” he added.

Meanwhile, 10 flights scheduled to depart from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), were delayed today because of reduced visibility due to fog, according to airport sources.

Among the flight routes affected by the severe fog were Delhi-Shimla, Delhi-Kathmandu, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Jaisalmer, Delhi-Bareilly, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Varanasi, Delhi-Srinagar, Delhi-Jaipur, and Delhi-Guwahati, the sources said. (ANI)

Delhi Suffers Another ‘Very Poor’ Air Day With 337 AQI

By LokMarg 6th December 2022

Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded on Tuesday at 337 by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

According to the SAFAR, Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, the national capital woke up to smog with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 340 by SAFAR.

The Air Quality Index from 0 to 100 is considered as good, while from 100 to 200 it is moderate, from 200 to 300 it is poor, and from 300 to 400 it is said to be very poor and from 400 to 500 or above it is considered as severe.

Earlier on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region breached the ‘severe’ category.

The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel had further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM said it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs, and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order. (ANI)

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Construction, Demolition Banned In Delhi-NCR As AQI Turns Severe

By LokMarg 4th December 2022

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, on Sunday announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region worsened again, breaching the ‘severe’ category.
The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM says it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. (ANI)

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Delhi Air Quality To Improve From Sunday Evening Onwards: IMD Scientist Vijay

By LokMarg 4th December 2022

The Air Quality in Delhi which has been in the ‘severe’ category for some time is likely to improve bringing respite to Delhiites from Sunday evening, a weather scientist said.

“The air quality in the national capital is in the severe category with an air quality index of around 400, but from today evening onwards, the air quality of the national capital is likely to improve,” India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Vijay Soni told ANI.
During a telephonic conversation, Vijay Soni, a scientist at the IMD’s Air Quality Division in New Delhi, said, “Today morning the air quality of Delhi was in the severe category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) around 400.

“The main reason behind this has been with winds remaining calm for the whole day and night on Saturday, which deteriorated air quality significantly.”

“But today (Sunday) we expect that winds will improve and we will see an improvement in the AQI from evening onwards,” he said.

Explaining the two main reasons for air quality to be in a severe category, Soni said, “The main reason is low wind speed and decrease in mixing layer height.

“The mixing layer height has come down significantly close to the surface. So these two factors are really contributing to the deterioration in air quality.”

He explained, “Mixing height is the height up to which air pollutants get mixed up in the atmosphere. The wind is almost calm, but today morning it has started. Right now the wind speed is up to 8 kmph,” Vijay Soni said.

On being asked if it’s normal to have such air quality in the month of December in Delhi, Soni said, “The air quality generally deteriorates in the month of December. In this month generally, we see lower mixing height and low wind speed and hence we experience bad air quality.” (ANI)

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CAQM Lifts Ban On Entry Of Heavy Vehicles To NCR As Air Quality Improves

By LokMarg 7th November 2022

In view of the improvement in the overall air quality of the Delhi-NCR in the past few days, a Central government panel revoked Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 4, which means that there is no ban on entry of trucks and non-BS 6 diesel light motor vehicles are allowed. But ban on non-essential construction activities which come under GRAP-3 now in force would continue.

The GRAP is an emergency response action plan invoked with a view to arrest further deterioration of adverse air quality scenarios in NCR.
GRAP stage 3 still remains invoked. So, ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR region except for railway services, metro rail services including stations and other essential activities will continue.

According to the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (CAQM), “Under Stage III State Governments in NCR/ GNCTD may impose restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVS (4 wheelers). Choose a cleaner commute — share a ride to work or use public transport or walk or cycle.”

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a meeting on Monday to discuss revoking of 50 per cent of work from home and re-opening primary schools after the orders issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (CAQM) today.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry in a statement said, “While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Commission noted that due to forecast by IMD/ IITM not indicating any steep degradation in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR in the coming days, it is advisable to relax the restrictions and further roll back Stage IV of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR”.

According to CAQM, the present AQI level of Delhi is around 339 which is about 111 AQI

points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-IV actions (Delhi AQI > 450) and preventive/ mitigative/ restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage-IV are underway, there is a likelihood of sustaining the improvement in AQI. The forecast by IMD/ IITM also does not indicate any steep degradation further.

The forecasts also indicated a significant improvement around November 5 and November 6, 2022, therefore, the sub-Committee while invoking Stage IV of the GRAP, decided to review the situation on November 6, 2022. (ANI)

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Stubble Burning In Haryana Not Even 10% Of Punjab’s: Khattar

By LokMarg 1st November 2022

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has claimed that the cases of stubble burning in Haryana are not even 10 percent of that in Punjab.

“There are not even 10 percent cases of stubble burning in Haryana as compared to Punjab. Last year there were 2,561 incidents of stubble burning, whereas it has decreased to 1,925 this year while 13,873 incidents have taken place in Punjab this year,” Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday.
He further added that they have also appealed to Punjab regarding stubble burning and the pollution it causes.

“NGT has given directions to Punjab. We have also appealed (to them) that the pollution will not remain in one state but will spread to many states,” he said.

“We created awareness among the farmers and also took legal action besides imposing penalties and registering FIRs. Incidents of stubble burning have reduced significantly in Haryana as compared to Punjab,” Haryana CM said.

Notably, Stubble burning had turned worse across Punjab, giving no hope of improvement in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) as the capital gasps for clean air.

Increasing incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year have become a matter of serious concern with the Union Environment Ministry pointing out that the AQI is likely to sharply deteriorate as only about 45-50 percent of sown area in the state had been harvested till October 24.

Sources in the Environment Ministry had told ANI that the contribution of stubble burning to the adverse air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has been increasing sharply and is about 18-20 percent currently with the trend only likely to increase further.

As per the Standard Protocol developed by ISRO for Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), for the period September 15, 2022, to October 26, 2022, total paddy residue burning events reported in Punjab were 7,036 compared to 6,463 for the same period during the last year.

CAQM further stated that about 70 percent of farm fires during the current paddy harvesting season were reported only from six districts namely Amritsar, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Patiala, and Tarn Taran.

These districts account for 4,899 cases against a total of 7,036 incidents in Punjab. These traditional six hotspot districts also accounted for about 65 percent of the total burning incidents during the last year for the same period. Out of a total of 7,036 reported cases, 4,315 stubble-burning incidences were reported during the last six days alone i.e., about 61 percent.

As per the Standard ISRO Protocol, for the period of September 15 – October 28 this year, a total of 10,214 paddy residue burning events have been reported in Punjab compared to 7,648 for the same period during the last year, which is a significant increase of about 33.5 percent.

Out of the total 10,214 reported cases, 7,100 stubble-burning incidents were reported in the last 7 days alone which is about 69 percent, added the official. (ANI)

Delhi Air Quality Index 342,Very Poor Category

By LokMarg 31st October 2022

The air quality of the national capital remained ‘very poor’ as the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) calculated its quality index as 342 on Monday.

The Air Quality Index for the day has been marginally lower than the recorded AQI level of 350 on Sunday.
In the area near Delhi University, the AQI has been recorded as 372 under the ‘very poor category. Meanwhile, the SAFAR recorded it ‘very poor’ at 362 in the Lodhi Road area.

Meanwhile, the Pusa area was also under the ‘very poor’ category with an AQI level of 340.

The AQI at Mathura Road, IGI Airport Terminal 3, and IIT Delhi also felt ‘very poor quality of air with the levels at 358, 336, and 322.

Notably, the Air Quality level in Delhi was in the ‘very poor category on Sunday as well.

The air quality has been deteriorating in the national capital before Diwali, but it increased further as people burnt firecrackers here and because of the stubble burning in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan in the winter, its fumes and pollutants move across cities.

Stubble burning had turned worse across Punjab, giving no hope of improvement in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) as the capital gasps for clean air.

Out of the total 10,214 reported cases, 7,100 stubble-burning incidents were reported in the last 7 days alone which is about 69 percent, added the official.

While in Haryana, the total number of farm fire events reported for the period September 15, 2022, to October 26, 2022, is 1,495 compared to 2,010 for the same period last year. There is about a 26 percent reduction in paddy residue burning events in Haryana so far during the current year.

Meanwhile, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas has intensified its efforts to ensure enforcement and compliance with its directions in view of deteriorating air quality in Delhi.

The Commission has issued closure directions to 45 coal-based industrial units in Rajasthan. Further, 32 coal-based units (9 in Haryana and 23 in UP) have been closed down permanently. 48 units (8 in Haryana and 40 in UP) have temporarily suspended their operations till these units are converted to approved fuels.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) sub-committee decided to implement Stage III of GRAP in the entire NCR in a move to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

“Under this, all construction work will be banned except for special projects like Central Vista and other projects of national need,” read the official press release from Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.

While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting, the Commission noted that due to unfavorable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage III of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR. (ANI)

Delhi Wakes Up To ‘Poor’ Air Quality, Smog On Diwali Eve

By LokMarg 23rd October 2022

A day before Diwali, the Delhiites woke up under a blanket of smoggy sky as the air quality remained in the “poor” category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 266.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the AQI index in the overall Delhi region was in the ‘poor’ category at 266, ‘very poor’ category in the Delhi University area at 329, ‘poor’ quality in Mathura Road and Lodhi Road at 293 and 218 respectively on Sunday morning.

The levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 110 in the ‘poor’ and 237 in the ‘moderate’ category respectively.

Meanwhile, Noida’s overall air quality also stood in the ‘very poor’ category with the AQI at 311. However, the air quality in Gurugram stood in the ‘moderate’ category with an AQI of 139.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe.

SAFAR also advised the sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and to take more breaks and do less intense activities.

“Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see a doctor if get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue,” it said in its advisory.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has banned the production, storage, sale, and bursting of crackers this year as well as fines and jail terms in case of violation.

In a bid to reduce vehicular pollution, the Delhi Government also announced the ‘Red Light On Gaadi Off’ campaign.

Under the campaign, public representatives and officials will motivate commuters to turn their vehicles off at red lights in a bid to curb vehicular pollution.

The air quality in the national capital is also affected because of stubble burning in surrounding Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan in the winter.

As Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) continue to breathe toxic air, the Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute Dr. Ashok Seth said that the pollution not only damages the lungs but it also affects our hearts.

“While pollution has only been linked to lung problems as asthma gets worsens, people often ignored the proven fact that air pollution leads to increased heart damage and we should not ignore this.”

“In fact, as we have been seeing the increase in heart disease in young people in the last few years, I believe that it is caused by air pollution that has got worse over the last 20 years as well as their lifestyles. For the last 20 years, this has been recognized by all authoritative scientific bodies of cardiology,” Dr. Seth said.

Dr. Seth explained how air pollution causes inflammation in the arteries of the heart and damages the heart. (ANI)