Delhi Air Quality Remains 'Very Poor' Amid Thick Smog; GRAP II Measures Enforced
Delhi's air quality continues to be classified as 'very poor' with an AQI of 324 on Monday morning and widespread smog blanketing the city. Several localities report AQI well above 350. Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remains active with measures like restrictions on diesel generators and increased water sprinkling. Nearby NCR cities also experience elevated pollution levels.
The air quality in Delhi remains critically poor with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 324 recorded on Monday morning, signifying ‘very poor’ conditions across the city. A dense smog layer blankets New Delhi, with temperatures around 18° Celsius. Key hotspots such as Alipur, Anand Vihar, Burari Crossing, Narela, Rohini, and Wazirpur show AQI values ranging from 354 to 389, with several areas nearing or in the 'severe' pollution category based on Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app data. Surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) cities like Noida (311), Gurugram (304), and Ghaziabad (334) also report significantly high pollution. The 'very poor' level AQI indicates unhealthy air quality with high pollutant concentrations. Consequently, Stage II measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are in force, entailing diesel generator restrictions by power output, enhanced mechanized road cleaning, augmented water sprinkling to reduce dust, and bolstered public transport infrastructure to mitigate vehicular emissions. Meteorological factors like slow winds and temperature drops contribute to pollutant accumulation near the surface. Authorities warn that if air quality worsens into the 'severe' category, Stage III GRAP measures will be activated. These ongoing conditions underscore the persistent air pollution crisis in Delhi during this season, with no immediate relief expected from weather patterns or interventions yet.
