- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital has stayed in the “very poor” category for the seventh consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 346, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Air Quality Early Warning System predicts that unfavorable weather conditions will keep pollution levels elevated for the next three days.
Among the monitoring stations, Shadipur reported the worst air quality, exceeding 400 and entering the “severe” category. Rohini had the highest AQI in the morning at 340, followed by Bhalswa landfill at 336, Dwarka at 334, and Alipur at 332. Najafgarh had the lowest AQI at 292, still classified as “poor.”
The CPCB defines AQI levels from 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and anything above 400 as “severe,” indicating serious health risks. Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 p.m. on Saturday, was 346, slightly worse than Friday’s 331, reflecting a continued decline in air quality as winter sets in.
In light of the alarming situation, the Supreme Court has mandated the enforcement of all measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4), except for school closures. GRAP-4 includes strict restrictions on construction activities, industrial emissions, and other pollution-heavy practices. The court has raised concerns about the implementation of these guidelines and warned that officials failing to comply may face legal repercussions.
While physical classes are allowed to continue, the court has not lifted restrictions under GRAP-3 or GRAP-2 until there is a consistent drop in AQI levels. It has also instructed state governments to use the labor cess collected to assist construction workers affected by the ongoing construction ban.
Authorities have put several measures in place under GRAP-4, including banning non-essential trucks from entering Delhi, except those transporting essential goods or using cleaner fuels like LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. Construction work on public infrastructure projects has also been halted to reduce dust pollution, a significant contributor to the current crisis.
The deteriorating air quality continues to pose serious health risks for residents of Delhi.
