Pollution Levels Dip Slightly, Offering Hope for Delhi-NCR

Delhi’s air quality stayed in the “very poor” category for the 14th straight day on Thursday. In the early morning, Delhi has recorded an AQI of 349 at 7 am. According to Forecast no major improvement will be there in the coming week.

According to CPCB data, most of the city’s 39 air-monitoring stations showed “very poor” air. Wazirpur and Bawana had the worst air quality in the city with the AQI level crossing 400. Talking about the other areas such as Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar and IGI Airport also showed very poor air quality, few places like Aya Nagar, Lodhi Road, Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Mandir Marg and Sri Aurobindo Marg showed slightly better, but still unhealthy, air.

NCR Also Suffers from Toxic Air

Neighbouring cities continued to face heavy pollution. Noida saw AQI levels between 325 and 406 across different sectors. Greater Noida’s air worsened further, with Knowledge Park-III and V recording very poor levels. In Ghaziabad, two monitoring stations showed very poor air, while Loni reached “severe” levels. Gurugram and Faridabad were slightly better, with most areas falling in the “poor” category, and one station in Faridabad recording “moderate” air quality.

Yesterday, Delhi’s average AQI was recorded 327, which is a slight improvement as compared to earlier this week, but the air is still in the “very poor” category and has been for almost two weeks. Because of low wind speed and the temperatures are falling, pollution is getting trapped near the ground. The IMD also says that Delhi will see foggy conditions through the day with temperatures expected to stay between 9°C and 24°C.

GRAP Stage-3 Restrictions Lifted

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has removed the Stage-3 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) because the air quality has improved a little. But the lighter rules i.e. Stage-1 and Stage-2 will be continued everywhere in Delhi NCR. Officials will monitor closely monitor to make sure the pollution doesn’t get worse again.

GRAP divides pollution levels into four categories ranging from “poor” to “severe plus,” and Delhi-NCR follows these restrictions every winter depending on the AQI levels.

Delhi Records Coldest Morning This Season

On Wednesday, Delhi recorded its coldest morning of the season with the temperature stood at 8°C. This is the lowest November temperature since 2022. On Tuesday, the minimum temperature was 9°C which was already below than normal.