- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The national capital is witnessing a significant improvement in air quality this year, a report Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday said with a record 209 days falling under the “Good to Moderate” air quality category.
Officials said that this marks the highest number of such days since 2018, barring the COVID-19 lockdown year of 2020 when industrial and commercial activities were largely halted.
Despite challenging meteorological conditions in some months, 2024 matched the average AQI of 209 seen in 2021 and 2022, ranking as one of the cleanest years for the capital.
“2024 witnessed the best ever “Good to Moderate” and the least ever “Poor to Severe” AQI days (barring COVID affected 2020),” CAQM, in a press statement, noted.
“Continual, concerted and persistent efforts of all stakeholders round the year have further helped to improve the general air quality in Delhi,” CAQM said, highlighting the record achievement.
While the overall air quality saw improvement, January 2024 witnessed its worst-ever AQI at 355 due to still wind conditions. “Absolutely still/very low-speed wind conditions during January 2024 led to an abnormally high average AQI,” the commission noted.
Similarly, prolonged dry spells and high-speed winds from April to June resulted in poor air quality, with May 2024 recording the worst AQI for the month since 2018.
However, there were notable successes. The months of February, March, and December recorded the cleanest air since 2018, while August 2024 achieved the best AQI in six years, discounting the COVID year. “Delhi witnessed the best-ever average AQI for the months of February and December during 2024. The month of August also recorded the best-ever average AQI since 2018,” the statement read.
As per the data shared by CAQM, in 2018, there were 159 Good to Moderate AQI days, which increased to 182 in 2019.
