New Delhi, Nov 21 (The Street Press India) – Air quality in Delhi and nearby areas worsened overnight, reaching an AQI of 365 at 9 am on Tuesday, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board.
On Monday at 4 pm, the city’s AQI was 348, showing a decline from 301 recorded on Sunday.
The 24-hour average AQI, measured at 4 pm daily, was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday, and 419 on Thursday.
Neighboring areas like Ghaziabad (340), Gurugram (324), Greater Noida (306), Noida (338), and Faridabad (336) also reported ‘poor’ air quality levels.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) scale categorizes levels as follows:
- 0-50: ‘Good’
- 51-100: ‘Satisfactory’
- 101-200: ‘Moderate’
- 201-300: ‘Poor’
- 301-400: ‘Very Poor’
- 401-450: ‘Severe’
- Above 450: ‘Severe Plus’
On Saturday, the government eased strict measures, such as lifting a ban on construction for linear projects and allowing the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi. This decision comes as pollution levels decreased, thanks to favorable wind speed and direction.
These actions represent the ultimate phase, Stage IV, in the Centre’s air pollution control strategy known as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Area, a statutory body tasked with devising pollution control strategies, has directed Delhi and NCR states to lift all emergency measures. These measures include restricting entry into Delhi to only CNG, electric, and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states, with exemptions for essential services.
As part of Stage IV in GRAP, all medium and heavy goods vehicles not involved in essential services were prohibited in the capital.
As per the recent CAQM directive, all remaining restrictions from stages I, II, and III of GRAP, including the prohibition of non-essential construction work, mining, stone crushers, and diesel generators, will remain in effect.
The India Meteorological Department reported that Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, slightly below the season’s average.
At 8:30 am, the relative humidity in Delhi was recorded at 91 percent.
The IMD forecasts shallow fog during the day in Delhi, with the maximum temperature expected to reach around 26 degrees Celsius.
