Page 28 - Delhi Air Quality

Centre's air quality panel revokes Grap-4 curbs as pollution levels dip

The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR's air quality on Thursday revoked curbs under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid dip in pollution levels, according to an official order. The curbs were imposed Wednesday as calm winds, low temperatures and foggy conditions allowed accumulation of pollutants in the region, with the air quality index clocking 396 last evening. Stage 4 curbs include a ban on all construction activities, entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi, and mandatory shifting of school classes, except for classes 10 and 12, to hybrid mode. Non-essential diesel trucks are prohibited from entering Delhi, while Delhi-registered BS-IV and older diesel-run heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for essential services under Stage 4. During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorizes air quality into four stages Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage 4

Despite overnight rain spell, Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor'

It is expected that the air quality in the Delhi-NCR region may improve as the day progresses due to the rain spell

Hybrid classes for Delhi schools except classes 10, 12 amid poor air

The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) Wednesday directed all schools to conduct hybrid classes for students up to class 9 and that of class 11 after curbs under stage four of the Graded Response Action Plan were invoked in the city amid a sharp dip in air quality. Calm winds, low temperatures and foggy conditions allowed the accumulation of pollutants in the region, with the air quality index soaring from 275 on Tuesday to 396 at 6 pm on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology predicted that AQI may breach the 400 mark soon. Accordingly, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to "straightway invoke" all actions under stages 3 and 4 with immediate effect. In a circular, the DoE stated, "All heads of government, government-aided, unaided private schools under DoE, NDMC, MCD, and the Delhi Cantonment Board are directed to conduct hybrid classes for students up to Class 9 and 11, ...

Delhi's air quality dips to 'very poor'; proposed rain may improve AQI

Delhi-NCR remains gripped by a severe cold wave, with dense fog reducing visibility to near zero in various parts of the capital

Delhi records 'poor' AQI amid cold wave; dense fog reduces visibility

Delhi air quality: As the city remains under the grip of a cold wave, dense fog reduced visibility across various areas

Delhi AQI improves to 'poor' after rain, Grap III restrictions lifted

Cold wave continues grappling Delhi after overnight showers which gave the much needed relief to the city's air quality

AQI in Delhi improves but remains 'very poor'; Grap-III measures reinstated

The neighbouring areas of Delhi, including Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad, reported 'poor' air quality with AQIs ranging between 201 and 222

Delhi continues to breathe 'severe' air; weekend rain likely to improve AQI

Amid the sharp deterioration in air quality due to unfavourable weather conditions, the Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR air quality reinstated Stage 3 anti-pollution measures

A tale of two cities: Delhi's air more toxic than LA's wildfire-hit skies

While LA's wildfires and resultant pollution have triggered immediate public health warnings and school closures, Delhi's residents endure severe air pollution with little comparable response

Grap 3 restrictions back in Delhi-NCR amid rise in air pollution levels

Delhi's air pollution levels showed an increasing trend and the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 357 at 4 pm, up from 297 on Wednesday, owing to "calm winds and foggy conditions"

Delhi AQI remains in 'very poor' category as mercury dips under 10 degrees

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' for the eighth day while cold wave grips the national capital with the temperature falling to 5 degrees Celsius in early morning on Thursday

Delhi's air quality remains in 'very poor' category, AQI stands at 322

An intense cold wave swept through Delhi early Wednesday, causing a sharp drop in temperatures and bringing chilly winds

Indian cities reduced PM2.5 pollution levels by 27% from 2019-24: Report

Indian cities achieved an average 27 per cent reduction in PM2.5 pollution levels from 2019 to 2024, with those under NCAP alone recording a 24 per cent decline, a new report has found. According to the report by climate tech firm Respirer Living Sciences, Varanasi and Moradabad reduced PM2.5 levels by 76 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively. Other top performers include Kalaburagi (57.2 per cent), Meerut (57.1 per cent), Katni (56.3 per cent), Agra (54.1 per cent), Baghpat (53.3 per cent), Kanpur (51.2 per cent) and Jodhpur (50.5 per cent). "Air quality has improved considerably, with a 27 per cent decline in PM2.5 levels across all monitored cities since 2019. NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) cities alone achieved a 24 per cent reduction, showing progress in combating air pollution," according to the report. Despite the improvements, several cities remain highly polluted. In 2024, Delhi recorded PM2.5 levels of 107 microgrammes per cubic metre while Byrnihat in Assam report

Delhi AQI remains in 'very poor' category as mercury dips further

Despite the rain lashing parts of the national capital on Monday, December 6, Delhiites did not get any relief from the worsening air quality

Delhi's PM 2.5 levels up in 2024 even after low stubble burning: CSE report

Delhi's annual PM2.5 levels rose in 2024 for the second consecutive year, despite a 37 per cent drop in stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and the national capital, according to a new report. The report by think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said Delhi's annual PM2.5 concentration increased to 104.7 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2024 -- a 3.4 per cent rise from the 2023 levels. This is also more than twice the national ambient air quality standard of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre. While the 2024 average is still 9.6 per cent lower than the 2018 peak of 115.8 microgrammes per cubic metre, it is 3 per cent higher than the three-year average of 2021-2023, indicating a gradual reversal of earlier gains made between 2018 and 2022, it said. The report highlighted that the total annual fire counts (on account of stubble burning) dropped by 37.5 per cent in 2024 in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. Punjab recorded a 75 per cent decline, and Haryana, a 37 per cent ...

Delhi air quality improves slightly but remains 'very poor' for 5th day

Experts anticipate that the air quality will improve to the "poor" range by Tuesday, thanks to the expected rainfall

GRAP 3 curbs revoked in Delhi-NCR amid dip in air pollution levels

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked the Stage-III actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR following a significant improvement in the air quality index (AQI).Stage-I and Stage-II measures, however, will remain in effect, officials said on Sunday.The decision comes after the Sub-Committee on GRAP reviewed the air quality data and the IMD/IITM forecasts, noting a downward trend in AQI levels.Owing to the favourable meteorological conditions and better wind speed, the AQI of Delhi has been continuously improving and has been recorded as 339 at 4:00 PM and 335 at 5:00 PM and the trend/ forecast indicates the AQI levels to further go down_ As per the Air Quality & Weather, forecast provided by IMD/ IITM, there is a further likelihood of AQI of Delhi to remain in 'Poor' category in the coming days owing to favourable meteorological conditions, a release said.The CAQM had on Friday invoked Stage-III curbs under the GRAP across the ...

Delhi chokes as air quality stays 'very poor'; AQI hits 400 in many areas

The AQI levels fell into the "severe" category in areas like RK Puram (401), Siri Fort (426), Patparganj (410), and Dwarka Sector-8 (405), among others

Dense fog in Delhi, city sees season's longest zero visibility spell

Dense fog enveloped the national capital on Saturday, reducing visibility to zero for an unprecedented nine-hour stretch, the longest spell of the season, according to the weather department. The dense fog led to the delay of 81 trains while 15 flights got diverted on Saturday, according to officials. "Zero visibility prevailed for nine hours at Palam between 6 pm and 3 am (UTC), marking the longest spell of the season. The city's primary weather station, Safdarjung, recorded eight hours of zero visibility, as per the IMD." With the the maximum temperature in the city settled at 20 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notch above average and the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notch above the normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The relative humidity during the day ranged between 96 and 100 per cent, it said. For Sunday, the weather department has predicted a partly cloudy sky. The predominant surface wind is expected to blow from the

Delhi's air quality worsens; 'very poor' AQI prompts GRAP Stage III curbs

In response to the worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced the reimplementation of stricter pollution control measures under Grap Stage III