Delhi Pollution: One day after improving from the “severe” category, Delhi‘s air quality was rated as “very poor” on Sunday for the second day in a row. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 313 at six in the morning on Sunday. Even though the AQI category stayed the same, the number is significantly lower than the AQI that was measured at 398 on Saturday morning.
Air Quality Readings in Delhi
The air quality in RK Puram was reported at 325, 323 in New Moti Bagh, 292 near the IGI Airport, 329 in the Anand Vihar region, and 337 in Nehru Nagar, according to data updated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 6 am. The majority of these readings were classified as “very poor” AQIs. The 24-hour average AQI for Delhi, which is calculated at 4 p.m. daily, was 319 on Saturday. On Friday, 405; on Thursday, 419; on Wednesday, 401; on Tuesday, 397; on Monday, 358; and on Sunday, 218.
Air Quality Categories and Regulatory Response
A score of 0–50 is regarded as acceptable, 51–100 as satisfactory, 101–200 as moderate, 201–300 as poor, 301–400 as extremely poor, 401–450 as severe, and above 450 as severe plus. After the air quality improved from the “severe” to the “very poor” category on Saturday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) relaxed the anti-pollution curbs under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the surrounding districts. After determining that the AQI in the nation’s capital had not declined during the previous few days, the panel made its conclusion.
GRAP Stages and School Resumption
Actions to reduce pollution are divided into four stages by the Center’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR: Stage I is Poor (AQI 201-300), Stage II is Very Poor (AQI 301-400), Stage III is Severe (AQI 401-450), and Stage IV is Severe Plus (AQI above 450). Authorities in Delhi verified on Saturday through an official circular that all government-aided and private schools in the nation’s capital will resume offline instruction starting on November 20 following the lifting of GRAP IV limits.
School Resumption and Stubble Burning in Punjab
According to the circular, all pupils’ classes—from pre-school to standard 12—will resume on November 20. It further stated that morning assembly and outdoor sports programmes will be stopped for the next week. Punjab reported more than 600 stubble-burning events on Saturday. Farmers in various areas are still lighting crop residue on fire, defying Supreme Court directives to put an end to field fires in the midst of an increase in pollution in Delhi-NCR.
President Droupadi Murmu’s Remarks on Pollution Solutions
In his remarks on the pollution problem in Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu stated that the creation of sustainable jet fuels is an essential step towards decarbonizing the economy. Speaking on Saturday at a conference in the nation’s capital, she added that new propulsion technologies including electric, hydrogen, and hybrid must be quickly and widely adopted.
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