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Delhi Air Quality Improves: 'Severe' to 'Poor' Drop
26 Dec
Summary
- Delhi's air quality improved from 'severe' to 'poor' this week.
- GRAP Stage IV restrictions were lifted on December 24.
- Vehicular emissions contribute up to 40% of Delhi's pollution.
Delhi's air quality has shown a gradual decline in pollution levels over the past two days, shifting from 'severe' earlier this week to the 'poor' category with an average AQI of 292 as of Friday. This improvement prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to lift Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV restrictions across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on December 24.
Several monitoring stations recorded AQI levels in the 'moderate' and 'poor' ranges, although some areas like Anand Vihar and Bawana still reported 'very poor' air quality. In surrounding NCR areas, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also saw mixed air quality, with many cities falling into the 'poor' or 'very poor' categories.
Authorities have implemented measures such as allowing only Bharat Stage 6 vehicles into Delhi, aiming to reduce pollution. Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to the capital's toxic air, particularly in winter, with experts estimating they account for up to 40% of particulate pollution in the NCR.
