Smog shrouds DelhiNCR: AQI in ‘very poor’ zone at 379; rain may bring relief

NEW DELHI: A thick layer of smog covered parts of Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 379 at 7 am.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Pandav Nagar stood at 445, ITO at 414 placing it in the ‘severe’ category.

On Monday, the city’s average AQI was 410 at 4 pm, slightly lower than Sunday’s 440. On Saturday, the AQI had crossed 400 by 6 pm, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement GRAP Stage-IV measures. The last three-day severe pollution spell in January occurred in 2021, from January 14 to 16.

Despite GRAP Stage-IV measures, air quality remained critically poor. CPCB data shows that 25 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations recorded severe pollution on Monday. Wazirpur recorded an AQI of 473, Vivek Vihar 472, and Anand Vihar 497.

The episode has highlighted enforcement gaps. A review by CAQM and state pollution control boards (SPCBs) revealed significant shortfalls in key measures, including inspections of construction and demolition sites, mechanical road sweeping, and deployment of sweeping machines, with compliance lapses ranging from 7% to nearly 100% across the NCR. Grievance redress for pollution-related complaints was found inadequate in 47–100% of cases. The commission has directed DPCC and SPCBs to identify officials responsible for non-compliance and initiate proceedings.

Experts emphasise the need for strict enforcement of measures such as restricting polluting vehicles, controlling dust at construction sites, and curbing open biomass burning.

Weather conditions may offer some relief. Monday saw moderate fog and a temperature range of 7.7°C to 26.7°C. The city could receive rainfall around January 23, which may help disperse pollutants.

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