Delhi’s Air Quality Has Slightly Improved But Is Still Classified As “Very Poor”

With an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 339 around 9 am, Delhi’s air quality has somewhat improved during the course of the night. This is a change from the “very poor” category, however there are still issues with the air quality in the capital. The AQI at 405 on Friday at 4 PM was recorded by monitoring agencies, illustrating how the quality of the air varies.

Delhi’s air quality has been problematic despite severe municipal government efforts, including limitations on diesel vehicles and a prohibition on building activities. These issues have arisen from a number of sources. Pollutant dispersal has been hampered by the aftermath of Diwali festivities, increased stubble burning in nearby states, and adverse weather conditions, such as calm breezes and low temperatures.

According to data from a collaborative investigation by the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, vehicle emissions emerged as a key contributor, accounting for almost 45% of the capital’s air pollution on Friday. The interaction between gases and particulate matter produced secondary inorganic aerosols, which constituted 19–36% of the recent air pollution.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is hopeful that an improvement in wind speed starting on November 21 would result in a possible decrease in air pollution levels. Delhi was the second-most polluted city in the world on Saturday, according to IQAir, a company that monitors air quality, despite these efforts.

Tight restrictions will persist, including those delineated in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), and will be supervised by a recently constituted six-person special task team (STF). Under the direction of Delhi’s special secretary for the environment, the STF is made up of representatives from important departments including the Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), transportation, traffic, and revenue. This is a reminder from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) that these controls will remain in place until additional directives.