Delhi air quality returns to very poor category as AQI climbs
The national capital recorded an average AQI of 319 on Thursday, with some areas reaching severe pollution levels.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated on Thursday as the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 319, returning the national capital to the ‘very poor’ category, according to reports by The Shillong Times and News18. A thick layer of smog continued to engulf the city, with several monitoring stations recording high pollution levels.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi was among the worst-affected areas, recording an AQI in the ‘severe’ category. Other locations with high readings included NSUT in Jaffarpur at 399, ITO at 397, and Delhi University North Campus at 394. In the National Capital Region (NCR), Gurugram recorded an AQI of 300, while Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad recorded 284, 280, and 270 respectively.
The pollution situation has triggered political confrontation. BJP Delhi minister Kapil Mishra alleged that Punjab, governed by the AAP, contributed to the crisis through stubble burning. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also accused the AAP of a conspiracy to maintain high pollution levels.
Former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj rejected these claims, stating that smoke from Punjab takes two to three days to travel to the capital.
Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is currently active in the NCR. This includes a ban on light motor vehicles with old emission ratings, such as BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or below, in Delhi and several NCR districts. There is also a ban on dust-generating construction and demolition activities.
Weather conditions are unlikely to provide significant respite. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted no rainfall in Delhi between November 10 and 15. Maximum temperatures in Delhi are expected to remain between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius until November 15.