Delhi AQI Reaches 281 on Hazy Morning, a Slight Improvement in Air Quality

Delhi on November 25, 2024, woke up to a hazy morning with the city's Air Quality Index recorded at 281. It marked a slight improvement compared to last week when hazardous levels of pollution filled Delhi's air, leaving residents concerned about their safety. The layer of haze that covered parts of the city throws open the significant challenge posed by air quality to the national capital. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s AQI dipped from the ‘severe plus’ category to an ‘unhealthy’ level, signaling a small but significant shift in air quality.

Delhi had been witnessing severe levels of pollution for the past week. The AQI was in the 'severe plus' category between 400 and 500. On Monday morning, though, the AQI in parts of Delhi was recorded at 281, indicating an unhealthy but somewhat less hazardous environment. Foggy cityscapes greeted commuters navigating through the haze to head to work. Smog-hit areas like Kartavya Path and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) residents continue to go about their routine even in the thick smog. Akshardham Temple is not even visible through the smog.

Persistent levels of pollution in Delhi have sparked alarm, especially with the onset of winter. Drone footage taken around the city showed that the toxic foam on the Yamuna River continued to prevail, a direct result of the increased pollution in the region. Amid the increase in pollution, authorities appealed to residents to be alert as there were widespread complaints about health problems such as breathing difficulty and fever.

In a response to the increasing pollution, Delhi's government has introduced measures like truck-mounted water sprinklers in areas like Shaheen Bagh to reduce the effects of smog. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also activated Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which has enforced measures including a ban on truck entries into Delhi-NCR to curb vehicular emissions, one of the primary contributors to air pollution.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has demanded more stringent implementation of the GRAP to reduce pollution in the air. However, with all these measures, residents are still worried as smog and poisonous pollutants continue to influence daily life. The government has also been called upon to ensure adherence to GRAP by police and authorities to further reduce pollution.

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