Page 4 - Air Pollution Study

Delhi breathes easy after gap of 50 days, AQI in 'moderate' category

Delhi breathed clean air on Wednesday after a gap of 50 days as the air quality was recorded in the 'moderate' category, offering much-needed respite from the high levels of pollution. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 178 at 4 pm, registering an improvement from 268 on Tuesday. Earlier, the AQI was recorded in the 'moderate' category with a reading of 198 on October 15. However, the AQI had deteriorated and shifted to the 'poor' category the following day, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Speaking about the improved air quality, an official of the India Meteorological Department said strong surface winds were forecast in the city on Wednesday. The winds will blow till December 7 when a new western disturbance is expected, which will lead to moderate fog starting December 8. Of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in the city, only Sri Aurobindo Marg reported air quality in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday, while eight

Delhi's average AQI remains 'poor' while a few areas improve to 'moderate'

Supreme Court upholds GRAP-IV restrictions amid concerns over enforcement

Pollution in Delhi-NCR among topics to be examined by parliamentary panel

Amid continuing concerns over air quality in the national capital, pollution in the country with special thrust on Delhi-NCR is one of the topics shortlisted by the department related to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change for examination, an official bulletin of the Rajya Sabha said. According to the bulletin, environmental pollution in the country and the steps taken by various agencies for its mitigation, with special thrust on air and water pollution in Delhi NCR tops the list of subjects to be taken up by the panel during its tenure in 2024-25. This issue will be taken up in the upcoming meeting of the panel scheduled for December 4 where the members will hear the views of the secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on pollution. Air quality in Delhi has been in the very poor' category throughout the month of November, with the air quality being in the severe' category for at least six days

Delhi Grap-IV curbs flouted: Report cites construction at officials' houses

A report by Supreme Court-appointed commissioners reveals ongoing construction at officials' homes in Delhi and NCR, violating pollution curbs under Grap-IV

Over 6K pollution complaints in Delhi since Oct 2021; 38% still unresolved

Rajasthan registered 77 complaints, 51 of which are unresolved

Lung damage to affect every Delhi resident, says Ashoka University Dean

In an interview with ET, Ashoka University's dean says Delhi pollution is causing lung damage to all residents. In the long term, it can cause consequences like COPD and cancer

Delhi air pollution: What are different GRAP Stages and their restrictions?

In response to the worsening AQI in Delhi-NCR, Delhi govt imposed GRAP IV from today. GRAP 4 means ban on diesel-run medium, heavy good vehicles registered in Delhi except those carrying essentials

Air purifier and mask sales surge as Delhi-NCR battles severe air pollution

With air pollution levels escalating to alarming levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region, the sale of air purifiers and masks have surged significantly, according to traders in the city. Delhi's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 484 its worst reading this season, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As Delhiites struggles to breathe, traders said the demand for air purifiers and masks have increased as many residents see the equipment as a necessity to safeguard their health. Vijendra Mohan, the owner of Air Expert India, a dealership in Indirapuram, said their air purifier sales have witnessed a significant increase after air pollution breached the 'severe' level. "Earlier, we used to sell around 20 purifiers a day, sometimes even over two days. Now, the numbers have doubled to 40 per day. Air purifiers have become essential for households, and I am receiving over 150 inquiries ..

Delhi pollution: Blame thermal plants, not just farmers for toxic air

A research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reveals that thermal power plants in the national capital region release 16 times more air pollutants than stubble burning

Delhi second-most polluted city in India as air quality remains 'severe'

Delhi's air quality worsened further on Sunday, with an AQI of 441, making it the second-most polluted city in the country. The city's 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm daily, stood at 441, in the "severe" category. On Saturday, the AQI was 417. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a "severe" AQI poses risks to healthy individuals and severely impacts those with pre-existing health conditions. Four cities in the country recorded the AQI in the "severe" category. Bahadurgarh in Haryana topped the list with an AQI of 445, followed by Delhi (441), Bhiwani in Haryana (415) and Bikaner in Rajasthan (404), according to the CPCB's data. Of the 40 monitoring stations in the capital, data from 34 provided by the CPCB showed that 32 stations recorded the air quality in the "severe" category, with AQI levels of above 400. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very .

Media spotlight on Delhi hides severe pollution in smaller Indian cities

Delhi grabs 80% of pollution coverage, while smaller cities like Hapur (AQI 361) and Meerut (AQI 377) face dangerous air but remain media blind spots, shows Wizikey report

106 additional buses, 60 extra trips by metros to combat pollution in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said an additional 106 cluster buses would ply in the city while metro trains would make 60 extra trips in view of GRAP-3 measures imposed due to worsening air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed GRAP 3 measures as the national capital recorded the worst pollution levels in the country, with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category for two consecutive days. On Friday the city's air quality was in the severe category with an AQI of 411 at 9 am. Delhi Environment Minister, addressing a press conference said that the Air Quality Index (AQI), which has consistently crossed hazardous levels, led to the enforcement of GRAP-3. "We are working to make GRAP-3 more effective in Delhi," the minister said, adding that a meeting was held with officials from MCD, PWD, transport, DTC, metro, and education departments to review and implement urgent measures. As part of the action plan, the Delhi government

India's pollution soars as does fossil fuel use, climate fight gets tougher

The Global Carbon Budget 2024 study says fossil-related carbon dioxide emission in India is projected to rise by 4.6 per cent this year in line with rapid economic growth

Closely monitoring Delhi pollution, strict measures to be taken: Gopal Rai

A day after Delhi's air quality plunged to the 'severe' category, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said strict pollution control measures would be enforced if the conditions worsened. Rai also attributed the worsening air quality to a combination of calm winds and a drop in temperature that caused the pollutants to remain trapped in the air. The national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am remained in the 'severe' category, with a reading of 428. On Wednesday, Delhi reported the worst AQI in the country, with the air quality turning 'severe' for the first time this season. Rai said at a press conference that there had been a change in the weather pattern during the past two days. Wind speeds are expected to pick up between Friday and Saturday, reaching six to 12 kilometres per hour and that should help reduce pollution levels, he said. Regarding the implementation of pollution mitigation measures under GRAP III, the minister said it would not be imposed yet as the

Delhi air turns cancerous: What COP29 experts suggest on pollution crisis

With 'severe' pollution levels, Delhi is now the second most polluted city globally, behind Pakistan's Lahore, with an air quality index of 1,399

Delhi air pollution: BJP demands closure of schools up to Class 5

The BJP on Wednesday demanded the Delhi government order the closure of all schools up to Class five in view of the worsening air pollution situation as it hit out at the AAP over the issue, claiming the city has become a gas chamber. The national capital experienced the season's first dense fog on Wednesday, with "very poor" air quality. The air quality index (AQI) was 366 according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) real-time data at 9 am. Interacting with reporters, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the AAP government in Delhi should shut down all private and government schools up to class five to protect the children from the hazardous air quality. The Delhi government has "completely failed" to control pollution, Sachdeva said and claimed the PM 2.5 levels have crossed 400, and PM 10 levels have crossed 1,000. "Delhi has become a gas chamber where everyone is coughing and complaining of trouble in breathing," he said. Children and the elderly are the big

Gurugram uses 'Artificial Rain' against air pollution; did it really help?

A Gurugram housing society conducted "Artificial Rain" using sprinklers from a high-rise building to counter the increasing pollution

Delhi, Gurugram air quality remains 'very poor'; Noida marginally better

A thick layer of smog continued to blanket Delhi, reducing visibility in most parts during the early morning hours. Many AQI monitoring stations reported 'severe' pollution levels of over 400

Bengaluru struggles with 'moderate' AQI, other Southern cities breathe easy

While Bengaluru grapples with a moderate AQI of 110 due to vehicle emissions, several southern cities, including Udupi, Thrissur, and Tirunelveli, enjoy 'good' air quality levels

Vehicular emissions major cause of Delhi's winter pollution, says CSE

Vehicular emission is the top contributor to Delhi's pollution during winter season--more than stubble burning, road dust or bursting of fire crackers -- with over 50 per cent of pollution from local sources linked to city's fragmented transportation system, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). An estimated 1.1 million vehicles enter and exit Delhi daily, further worsening the air quality. The traffic caused from this vehicle influx intensifies pollution, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx), which account for 81 per cent of NOx pollution in Delhi. According to data presented by the CSE, local pollution sources in Delhi account for 30.34 per cent of the city's air pollution (50.1 per cent of which is contributed through transportation), while 34.97 per cent originates from the neighbouring NCR districts and 27.94 per cent from other areas. Stubble burning contributes only 8.19 per cent to Delhi's pollution levels. These data points are based on the CSE's analysi