Delhi Air Quality Remains Severe

• Overall Air Quality in Delhi: Remained in ‘severe’ category for three consecutive days; average 24-hour AQI was 404, showing slight improvement from 418 previously (CPCB data).

• AQI Categories:

  • 51-100: Satisfactory
  • 101-200: Moderate
  • 201-300: Poor
  • 301-400: Very Poor
  • 401-500: Severe

• Forecast: Expected improvement to ‘very poor’ category on November 15; likely to stay in ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range until November 16 according to the Air Quality Early Warning System.

• Monitoring Stations: Out of 39 stations, 28 reported ‘severe’ air quality. Notable areas:

  • Wazirpur: 458
  • Chandni Chowk: 453
  • Bawana: 452

• Comparative Data: Only Bahadurgarh (466) and Rohtak (430) in Haryana had worse air quality than Delhi.

• Causes of Pollution:

  • Meteorological factors: Low wind speeds and drop in temperature.
  • Stubble burning: Contributed 12% to PM2.5 levels, predicted to rise to 17.3% by November 15 and 17.35% by November 16.
  • Firecracker usage during the festival season exacerbates pollution.

• Regulatory Actions: From November 1-12, Municipal Corporation of Delhi issued 482 challans totaling ₹51.26 lakh for air pollution rule violations, predominantly in Central Zone.

• Legal Framework: Violations pertain to rules set by the National Green Tribunal aimed at controlling air pollution.

• Health Impact: Air quality in the ‘severe’ category adversely affects healthy individuals and poses serious risks to those with pre-existing health conditions.

This summary encapsulates the critical air quality issues facing Delhi, the indicators of pollution severity, government responses, and contributing factors, while adhering to an objective presentation of facts.