What is Delhi's current air quality situation?

Delhi is experiencing its worst January air quality spell in five years, with the AQI remaining severe for three consecutive days.

Why is Delhi's air quality so poor?

The severe air quality is due to a combination of factors including pollution levels, with significant lapses in the enforcement of control measures.

When will Delhi's air quality improve?

Forecasts suggest a gradual improvement to 'very poor' levels by Tuesday, with potential help from rain around January 23rd.

Home / Environment / Delhi Chokes: 5-Year Jan Air Quality Crisis Deepens

Delhi Chokes: 5-Year Jan Air Quality Crisis Deepens

20 Jan

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Summary

Delhi recorded its worst January air quality spell in five years.
Three consecutive days saw an average AQI of 400 or above.
Enforcement of pollution control measures showed widespread lapses.

Delhi Chokes: 5-Year Jan Air Quality Crisis Deepens

New Delhi is currently grappling with its most severe January air pollution episode in the past five years. The city has endured three consecutive days where the average Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed 400, indicating "severe" pollution levels. On Monday, the AQI stood at 410, a slight improvement from Sunday's 440, with forecasts predicting a gradual, albeit slow, improvement to "very poor" levels later in the week.

The stringent GRAP Stage-IV measures, activated when pollution levels cross the 400 AQI mark, have proven insufficient. Data from Monday showed that at least 25 out of 39 monitoring stations recorded severe air quality, with Wazirpur touching 473 and Vivek Vihar at 472. This persistent pollution highlights significant enforcement failures, with a review by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) identifying widespread lapses in measures like construction dust control and mechanical road sweeping across the National Capital Region (NCR).