Page 2 - Air Quality

With 418 AQI, Delhi's air quality turns 'severe' for first time this season

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'

Delhi's air quality 'very poor' for 14th day; temp may drop from Nov 17

Delhi's air quality remained "very poor" for a 14th consecutive day on Tuesday, with an AQI reading of 334, as vehicular emission was the biggest contributor to the city's pollution, accounting for 15.4 per cent. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been in the "very poor" category since October 30, when it was recorded at 307. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", 401 and 450 "severe" and above 450 "severe plus". According to the Centre's Decision Support System for Air Quality Management, vehicular emissions will remain the top contributor to Delhi's pollution over the next two days, with an estimated share of approximately 10 per cent. On Tuesday, it was 15.5 per cent. The national capital's 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, stood at 334, down from 354 on Monday. Air pollution levels reached the "severe" category at one station in Anand Vihar. Across the country,

Delhi air quality remains in 'very poor' category with AQI reading of 352

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Monday with an AQI reading of 352, while four monitoring stations reported air quality levels in the 'severe' zone. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded until 4 pm daily was reported at 352, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. On Sunday, the national capital recorded the 24-hour average AQI of 335, according to the CPCB. Data from CPCB's Sameer app, which provides hourly AQI updates,showed that four out of the 38 monitoring stations on Monday reported AQI in the 'severe' category with readings above 400. These included Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, and Wazirpur. Meanwhile, a thick layer of mist and smog blanketed the city during the morning and evening hours, with a high of 32.4 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was also three notches above the season's average, with a reading of 17.6 degrees Celsius at 9 am. Humidity levels fluctuated between 96

Ramesh asks environment ministry to clarify air quality standards review

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked the Environment Ministry on Sunday to clarify the results of the review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards-2009 that IIT-Kanpur was tasked to carry out on the orders of the Central Pollution Control Board in 2021. The Congress general secretary in-charge communications said the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) covering 12 major pollutants were last promulgated in November 2009. That was widely hailed at that time, even though it was well understood that they would have to be kept under periodic review, the former environment minister said in a post on X. IIT-Kanpur had been intimately involved with this initiative, he said. In December 2021, IIT-Kanpur was tasked by the Central Pollution Control Board to review NAAQS, 2009, Ramesh said. "Meanwhile, there seems to be an effort to relax standards like those relating to emissions of sulphur dioxide from power plants." "Till today, even as the country chokes, we have no idea

Delhi's air quality improves slightly, remains in 'very poor' category

Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' despite a slight improvement on Saturday evening, CPCB data showed. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed that the national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 351 at 6 pm from 358 at 9 am. According to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the national AQI published by the CPCB, the AQI at Bawana and New Moti Bagh stations were in the 'severe' category with readings of 405 and 408, respectively. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 450 'severe'. Delhi on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 32.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, while the minimum temperature settled four notches above the season's average at 18.3 degrees. The humidity level oscillated between 78 per cent and 98 per cent, according to the India Meteorological Department. The weather office has forecast

Air pollution: CAQM criticises growing backlog of complaints in Delhi

The Centre's panel tasked with improving air quality in Delhi-NCR has raised concerns over the slow resolution pace and the growing backlog of air pollution-related complaints in the national capital. Among various steps, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed intensified efforts to remove highly polluting end-of-life (EoL) vehicles (petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years) that are still in use in Delhi. The panel called for a more proactive approach to addressing complaints, saying that delays in resolving issues hinder the effective implementation of air quality management measures. In a meeting held on Friday with the Delhi chief secretary and senior state government officials, the Commission stressed that each case of violation must be treated with urgency. "It said that timely resolution of complaints is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the enforcement process and for achieving broader air pollution control ..

After Supreme Court rap, Centre doubles penalty for stubble burning

The rules apply to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, and the National Capital Region areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

Central govt amends rules for stubble burning in Delhi, surrounding areas

These changes reflect the amendment to the rules governing the imposition of environmental compensation for stubble burning under the Commission for Air Quality Management

How is Lahore, the world's most polluted city, battling toxic air?

The capital of Pakistan's most populated province of Punjab, Lahore is just 25 km (16 miles) from the border with India, and is considered the cultural capital of the country

Delhi air quality worsens, overall AQI worst in country at 382 for the day

Delhi's air quality was on the brink of the 'severe' category on Sunday with an overall AQI reading of 382 the worst recorded in the country for the day. Fifteen monitoring stations of the city recorded air quality levels in the 'severe' zone, having AQI readings over 400, data showed. The city also recorded its lowest nighttime temperature so far, as thick smog and haze shrouded it in a dense cover during the morning and evening hours. The minimum temperature recorded on Sunday was 16.5 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees above normal, according to the weather department. The national capital's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm every day, stood at 382, worsening from 316 the previous day. The locations where air pollution levels reached the 'severe' zone are Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, NSIT Dwarka, Najafgarh, Nehru Nagar, Okhla Phase 2, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Wazirpur and Vivek Vihar. Despite the temporary relief .

AQI deteriorates to 'poor', 'very poor' in parts of Himachal post-Diwali

The air quality at various places across Himachal Pradesh deteriorated post-Diwali due to bursting of crackers, officials said. This year the average AQI in the state was at 140 (moderate) as compared to 92 last year. As per the data from the pollution department, industrial areas in the state recorded air quality ranging between moderate to very poor and Baddi (industrial area) was the most polluted with a "very poor" AQI of 392 followed by Parwanoo at 217, Poanta Sahib at 145, Barotiwala at 139, Nalagarh at 128 and Una at 122. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'. The air quality of Shimla was satisfactory with AQI 66 against 78 last year as the district administration had allowed the bursting of firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm only. Though some violations were seen but majority of the residents abided by the directions, ...

Delhi Env min praises residents for controlling pollution by lighting diyas

He also congratulated Delhi residents for acting responsibly by lighting diyas instead of bursting firecrackers, which contributed to controlling pollution levels

Firecracker bursting shrouds Delhi in smog, creating hazardous conditions

Relentless bursting of firecrackers blanketed Delhi in dense smoke on Thursday, causing severe noise pollution and reducing visibility, as people defied a ban on firecrackers to celebrate Diwali. The city's air quality dropped to the "very poor" category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 330 at 10 pm. Key areas, including Anand Vihar, saw the AQI plunge into the "severe" category while PM2.5 concentrations soared, creating hazardous conditions for respiratory health. In contrast to the clearer sky on Diwali last year, when favourable conditions kept the AQI at 218, this year's celebrations returned the city to its notorious pollution levels, a pattern worsened by unfavourable meteorological conditions, stubble burning and vehicular emissions. Although the city government had set up 377 enforcement teams and spread awareness through local associations to ensure compliance with the firecracker ban, neighbourhoods across east and west Delhi reported large-scale flouting of the ...

Diwali blues: Haryana, Punjab report AQI in 'poor', 'very poor' categories

Several places in Haryana reported air quality index (AQI) in the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories on Diwali night on Thursday. Many places in Punjab as well as in the Union Territory of Chandigarh reported air quality index in the 'poor' category. As of 11 pm on Thursday, the AQI in Gurugram in Haryana was recorded at 322, 336 in Jind and 306 in Charkhi Dadri, according to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the national AQI published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Among other places in Haryana, as of 11 pm, AQI in Ambala was recorded at 201, in Bahadurgarh it was 292, Bhiwani 278, Ballabhgarh 211, Faridabad 245, Kurukshetra 270, Panchkula 220, Rohtak 222 and Sonipat at 258. Chandigarh's AQI was recorded at 239 as of 11 pm on Thursday. In Jalandhar, the AQI at 11 pm was 256, while at Ludhiana, it was 234, Mandi Gobindgarh 266, while Patiala recorded an AQI of 244. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200

Diwali 2024: People across India celebrate the festival of lights with pomp

Colourful lights decked up buildings and diyas (earthen lamps) dotted houses as people across the country celebrated Diwali with great enthusiasm on Thursday. In the national capital, the air quality continued to deteriorate, remaining in the 'very poor' category, with levels expected to worsen to the 'severe' category due to bursting of firecrackers at night. Keeping up his tradition of celebrating the festival with soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sir Creek near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat's Kutch district and offered sweets to jawans. Modi said India cannot compromise on even an "inch" of land on its borders, adding the people believe in the strength of its armed forces for defending the country. "In the past, attempts were made to turn this region into a battlefield. The enemy has set its eyes on this region for a long time. But we are not worried as you are guarding the nation. Our enemy also knows it well," he asserted. "People of India feel their country is

Delhi's air quality continues to deteriorate, remains 'very poor' on Diwali

Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorate, remaining in the "very poor" category on Diwali, with levels expected to worsen to the "severe" category due to bursting of firecrackers at night. Delhiites woke up Thursday to a sky shrouded in a thick layer of smog. The air in Anand Vihar, a major terminus, was extremely polluted with the AQI in the "severe" category. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 328 at 4 pm, up from 307 on Wednesday when the city celebrated Chhoti Diwali. In 2023, Delhi residents enjoyed clearer skies and abundant sunshine on Diwali, with an AQI of 218, compared to 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. Last year, a decrease in stubble-burning incidents and rain before Diwali, along with favourable meteorological conditions, prevented the national capital from turning into a gas chamber after the festival. The pollutan

Diwali 2024: Amid pollution scare, many states tighten grip on firecrackers

With a blanket ban on firecrackers already in place across Delhi, many states have followed similar measures to avoid a potential health crisis

Delhi air deteriorates to 'very poor' due to calm winds, average AQI at 355

After a two-day gap, Delhi's air quality turned 'very poor' again on Sunday as calm winds prevented dispersion of pollutants. Some areas in the national capital recorded 'severe' pollution levels. Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 355 at 4 pm as against 255 on Saturday, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. Data from 37 of the city's 40 monitoring stations was shared by the CPCB. It showed that three stations -- Bawana, Burari and Jahangirpuri -- recorded 'severe' air quality. The air quality was also 'very poor' in Delhi's neighbouring areas like Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Noida and 'poor' in Faridabad and Gurugram. Under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of emergency measures to control air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region during winter, air quality is categorised into four stages: Stage I -- "Poor" (AQI 201-300); Stage II -- "Very Poor" (AQI 301-400); Stage III -- "Severe" (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV -- "Severe Plus" (AQ

Delhi AQI improves due to favourable winds, remains at 'poor' for 2nd day

The pollution control body has predicted that Delhi will witness clear skies for the next three days

Delhi air quality worst in India; could dip to 'severe' mark before Diwali

Delhi air quality today: The official data showed that the 'very poor' air quality level in Delhi is expected to continue till Saturday. It could also reach to 'severe' level in the coming week