Delhi air quality sees slight improvement, shifts from 'severe' to 'very poor'

Despite this progress, the city's air quality remains a pressing concern- a 48-hour poisonous streak in the "Severe" category.

In Short

• Delhi's Air Quality Index was over 400 (Severe) since Wednesday
• Capital's AQI at 386 on Friday evening, further improvement likely
• Stubble burning biggest contributor to Delhi's pollution with 33 per cent

After a few days of the Air Quality Index (AQI) being recorded in excess of over 400, Delhi witnessed a marginal improvement in its pollution levels on Friday evening, transitioning from the 'Severe' to the 'Very Poor' category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average AQI recorded was 396 at 4 pm on Friday, which then improved to 386 by 7 pm. Despite the progress, the city’s air quality remained a pressing concern - a 48-hour poisonous streak in the "Severe" category.

On Wednesday evening, Delhi's AQI entered the 'Severe' category. This spike was largely attributed to adverse wind patterns that brought pollutants from the western regions to the capital. With reduced wind speeds, the AQI hovered between 'Severe' and 'Severe+' categories for nearly two days, severely affecting the air quality.

In response to the deteriorating conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed the situation and implemented GRAP-III regulations across Delhi-NCR on Thursday. This marked a concerted effort to control pollution levels and mitigate its impact on public health.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMING DAYS

Despite the slight improvement, Delhi's air quality has been in the 300+ AQI zone for 17 consecutive days.

Meteorological factors, including a rise in both wind speed and daytime temperatures, have facilitated this marginal improvement. Now, forecasts suggest that wind speeds may increase over the weekend, potentially leading to further improvements in Delhi's air quality. The AQI could potentially fall to the lower range of the 'Very Poor' category, with a slim possibility of entering the 'Poor' category.

STUBBLE BURNING BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR

Stubble burning in many parts of north India remains a significant contributor to Delhi's deteriorating air quality, accounting for over 33 per cent of the pollution on Thursday. It marked the second consecutive day of contributions above 30 per cent.

The highest recorded contribution for the season was 35 per cent on November 1.