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Delhi Tackles Toxic Smog with Sweeping Anti-Pollution Measures
8 Nov
Summary
- Delhi's air quality enters "severe" category, prompting targeted action
- Slum households to receive priority access to clean cooking fuels
- Citywide pollution control efforts include sweeping, water sprinkling, and road repairs
On November 8, 2025, Delhi's air quality entered the "severe" category in multiple areas, prompting the city government to announce a targeted push to eliminate traditional cooking fuels in slum clusters and ramp up citywide anti-pollution drives.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revealed that the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has been tasked with surveying all slum areas to identify households still relying on wood-fired stoves or coal angithis. These households will be prioritized for the Ujjwala Yojana scheme, which provides access to clean cooking fuels.
Alongside this initiative, the government is carrying out pollution control efforts at a "war footing." Urban local bodies have been ordered to mobilize all sanitation resources for sweeping, water sprinkling, and mechanical dust suppression. The aim is to "cool and clear" polluted zones through continuous misting and road repairs to curb particulate matter dispersion.
To ease morning rush hour chaos, the government will stagger office hours starting November 15, with Delhi government offices working from 10 am to 6:30 pm and MCD facilities operating from 8:30 am to 5 pm. This temporary measure will be in effect until February 15, 2026.
Despite these efforts, the city's air quality remains a pressing concern, with the average AQI reaching 361 - "very poor" citywide - by 4 pm on November 8. Stubble burning in neighboring states continues to fuel the inversion-trapped smog, underscoring the need for coordinated regional action to tackle the crisis.
