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Delhi Air Quality Worst Since January: New Stations Mask Severity
7 Nov
Summary
- Delhi's AQI reached 382, the worst since January 19.
- New monitoring stations may be understating actual pollution levels.
- Festive season traffic and farm fires exacerbate Delhi's air crisis.
Delhi's official air quality index (AQI) registered 382 on Friday, marking its most severe reading since January 19. An analysis of data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicates that the recent addition of 13 new monitoring stations may be underreporting pollution levels. Without these new stations, Friday's AQI would have been approximately 393, falling into the "severe" category.
The divergence in readings is notable, with new peripheral stations showing significantly lower PM2.5 levels compared to older neighboring stations. This discrepancy has significant implications as the city grapples with worsening air quality during the festive season, a period typically marked by increased traffic and the peak of farm fires in surrounding agricultural areas.
In response to the deteriorating air quality and forecasts predicting it could turn "severe," the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. This involves restrictions on construction activities and the operation of certain vehicles, including BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel models, within Delhi and neighboring districts.
Experts suggest the new monitoring stations might be located in areas with cleaner air or that the instruments themselves may be undercounting pollution. Releasing calibration records and inspecting monitors are proposed steps to clarify the discrepancies. Despite potential underreporting, current pollution levels remain hazardous, significantly exceeding national standards.
