A thick blanket of smog shrouded Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) this morning as the city’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category. According to real-time data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi’s AQI at 8 am stood at 354, indicating a severe level of air pollution. The AQI scale categorizes air quality, with levels between 301 and 400 considered “very poor” and levels above 450 deemed “severe-plus.”
Multiple areas in Delhi, including Alipur, Anand Vihar, Dwarka, Okhla, Rohini, and IGI Airport (T3), among others, recorded “very poor” air quality, raising health concerns for the population. This persistent smog has prompted authorities to take stricter measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
On Tuesday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage 2 of GRAP across Delhi-NCR. Under this stage, the use of coal and firewood, along with diesel generator sets, is restricted. Mechanical sweeping of roads and daily water sprinkling are now mandatory to reduce dust emissions, especially at construction and demolition sites. Traffic personnel are being deployed at high-congestion points, while parking fees are being increased to discourage private vehicle use. Additionally, extra bus and metro services have been introduced to promote public transportation, and people have been advised to limit the use of personal vehicles.
The GRAP Stage 2 measures are in addition to the Stage 1 restrictions, which have been in place since October 15. Stage 1 includes periodic mechanized sweeping, water sprinkling, bans on open waste burning, and restrictions on coal and firewood use in eateries.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced further anti-pollution initiatives on Tuesday, including additional metro trips, the deployment of over 6,000 municipal workers for road dust control, and 1,800 more traffic personnel to manage congestion. Despite these efforts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast suggests that Delhi’s AQI is likely to remain in the “very poor” category due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Stubble burning in neighboring states like Haryana and Punjab continues to be a significant contributor to Delhi’s pollution levels. The post-harvest period in October and November typically sees an increase in farm fires, exacerbating air quality in the capital.
With rising pollution levels, authorities are urging residents to use public transport, avoid construction activities that generate dust, and refrain from open burning of waste to mitigate the deteriorating air quality.
