New Delhi: New Delhi was blanketed in haze on Thursday as air quality remained in the 'poor' category, with the national capital recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 226 at 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The development came a day after Delhi recorded its first 'poor' air quality day of the season on Wednesday, when a thick layer of haze engulfed parts of the city following overnight Dussehra celebrations.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday as pollution levels deteriorated. The measures include restrictions on the use of coal and firewood, along with other anti-pollution actions.
The decision followed a review of the regional air quality situation by the GRAP Sub-Committee. Delhi’s AQI, which stood at 179 in the 'moderate' category on October 20, rose sharply the following day. The CAQM order recorded an AQI of 244 at 2 pm on October 21 and said forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) indicated that air quality would remain in the 'poor' category in the coming days.
The order directed agencies across the National Capital Region (NCR) to implement, monitor and review Stage 1 measures to prevent air quality from deteriorating further. It also called on implementing agencies to maintain strict vigilance and intensify existing measures, while asking citizens to follow the GRAP Stage 1 citizen charter.
Several monitoring stations in Delhi recorded elevated pollution levels on Thursday. Jahangirpuri reported an AQI of 309 and Chandni Chowk 307, both in the 'very poor' category.
Other stations recorded AQI readings in the 'poor' category, including Alipur at 273, Anand Vihar at 237, Ashok Vihar at 223, Bawana at 275, Patparganj at 298, Rohini at 291, Wazirpur at 253, Akshardham at 237, and ITO at 280.
Under CPCB guidelines, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and 401 to 500 as 'severe'.
Delhi is among the world’s most polluted cities, with air quality typically worsening during winter as dense, stagnant air traps emissions from crop burning in neighbouring states, vehicle exhaust, and construction dust.
(With inputs from ANI and Reuters)
