Delhi Residents Demand Stricter Pollution Controls as Air Quality Plummets

As of November 8, 2025, the air quality in Delhi has taken a sharp turn for the worse, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaching the 350-mark and entering the 'very poor' category. This means residents are facing difficulty in breathing, watery eyes, and scratchy throats, a harsh reminder of the long-term dangers posed by high PM2.5 levels.

The AQI in the national capital reached a 24-hour rolling average of 388, well above the threshold of 350 set by the Supreme Court last year for the implementation of stricter Stage 3 measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). However, authorities have not yet invoked these more stringent controls, leaving many Delhi residents scratching their heads in frustration.

Experts have criticized the overall approach as passive, arguing that the focus should have been on preventing the AQI from reaching such hazardous levels in the first place. According to Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalsysts, "The aim should have been to - based on forecasts - preventing AQI from touching 350." Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB's air laboratory, added that by the time the AQI becomes "severe", residents have already faced high exposure to pollutants.

The pollution control board has not provided a clear explanation for the delay in implementing Stage 3 measures, which would include a ban on older-emission-standard vehicles and a shift to hybrid learning for schools. Authorities have stated that some Stage 3 rules are already in effect under the current Stage 2, but critics argue that this approach is insufficient to tackle the worsening crisis.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, with forecasts predicting the air quality to reach the 'severe' category on November 9, Delhi residents are growing increasingly concerned and demanding more decisive action from the government to address the pollution crisis.