Page 30 - Latest Updates on Delhi air quality

Delhi's AQI remains 'poor', can Grap-IV restrictions be reintroduced?

Today, most areas across Delhi reported the "poor" quality air, however a few locations also recorded the "moderate" air quality

Delhi's air quality remains in 'Poor' category: Is worst over for capital?

The neighbouring cities of Gurugram and Noida are now breathing easy as their air quality hovers in the "moderate" category, while Ghaziabad continues to struggle with poor air quality

After brief respite, Delhi's air quality slips back to 'poor' with 233 AQI

After a brief respite of three days, Delhi's air quality dropped again to the 'poor' category on Saturday. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 233 at 4 pm on Saturday, marking a deterioration from Friday's reading of 197, which fell in the 'moderate' category. The primary pollutants on Saturday were PM2.5 and PM10, with PM2.5 levels recorded at 93.2 g/m and PM10 levels at 185.4 g/m at 2 pm. These fine particles pose significant health risks as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in the city, two reported air quality in the 'very poor' category on Saturday, 30 were in the 'poor' category, and the rest recorded 'moderate' air quality, according to the Sameer app. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, air quality in the city will likely remain in the 'poor' category on Sunday and Monday, while it is expected to deteriorate to 'very poor' on Tuesday. The

Delhi's air in 'poor' category with AQI of 219, smog covers key NCR areas

Delhi's air quality worsened to the 'poor' category with an AQI of 219, smog blanketed NCR; authorities scaled down pollution measures from Grap-IV to Grap-II

Punjab, Haryana impose Rs 2.3 cr penalties on farmers for stubble burning

Punjab and Haryana have imposed fines exceeding Rs 2.1 crore and Rs 21 lakh respectively, on farmers for stubble burning in 2024, with more than 50 per cent of penalties collected

Delhi AQI reaches 186 as authorities ease Grap-III and IV pollution curbs

As the air quality improved to 'moderate' from 'poor,' it is expected that it will continue for the next two to three days as most areas in Delhi reported moderate air quality this morning

As CAQM revokes Grap-4, Delhi schools to resume classes in physical mode

In line with the CAQM's directive to revoke Grap-IV and Grap-III, the Delhi government's Directorate of Education issued an order to resume all classes in all schools to be held in physical mode

Delhi’s AQI below 200 for the first time in 50 days! Here’s what you need to know

Delhi’s air quality saw a big improvement today, with the AQI dropping to 161, on December 5. Watch the video to know more.

Centre's air quality panel revokes Grap stage 4 curbs in Delhi-NCR

Delhiites breathed cleaner air for the second consecutive day on Thursday as the AQI was recorded in the "moderate" category with a reading of 165. Restrictions under Stage 4 of the GRAP were lifted and replaced with the Stage-2 measures. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 165 at 4 pm, registering a slight improvement from 178 on Wednesday. It marks a significant improvement as on Tuesday, the AQI was recorded in the "poor" category with a reading of 268, compared to 280 on Monday and 285 on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. For the month of December, the city has not seen such clean air since December 14, 2022, when the AQI was 163. In comparison, the lowest AQI recorded in December 2023 was 286, according to the CPCB. The Supreme Court allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to shift to the Stage-2 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Thursday. As a result, severa

SC eases Grap restrictions in Delhi, moves to Stage II due to improved AQI

The top court said that if AQI goes above 350. Stage-III measures will have to be immediately implemented, and if AQI crosses 400 on a given day, Stage-IV measures will have to be re-introduced

Want clean air in Delhi? 5-star hotels turn air filtration into a 'service'

As Delhi battles high pollution levels, luxury hotels offer clean air through advanced filtration systems, turning guest rooms into spaces with AQI levels dramatically lower than the city's

Delhi's AQI improves to 161, pollution relief to continue for 2-3 days

Delhi's AQI came down to the 'moderate' category on Wednesday evening, with this period of relief expected to continue for the next two to three days

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

NGT issues notice to Centre on persistent air pollution crisis in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Centre on the "persistent air pollution crisis" in the national capital. The NGT was hearing the matter where it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a media report based on a study about the reasons for air pollution being emissions from thermal plants and the prevailing weather conditions. In an order passed on November 27, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the article, a recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has revealed that thermal power plants in the region are responsible for emitting 16 times more air pollution than the pollution caused by stubble burning." The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said that at present, Delhi was facing a "persistent air pollution crisis, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) (recently) reaching an alarming 488, falling under the severe plus category." It

Stubble burning among causes of Delhi pollution: Officials tell House panel

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is among the main reasons for air pollution in Delhi-NCR and several steps are being taken to encourage farmers to use paddy residue for animal feed and industrial purposes, a top Union environment ministry official told parliamentarians on Wednesday. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Leena Nandan, while making a presentation on air pollution in Delhi-NCR before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, also took suggestions from the MPs to reduce air and water pollution. Sources said she told the MPs that the government was trying to promote the use of Basmati rice, whose residue is used for animal feed, besides using the paddy straw for industrial purposes. She also listed vehicular emission as another reason for air pollution and said the government was making efforts to promote e-vehicles in the national capital. Construction activity in the national .

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Delhi's Nov PM 2.5 level reaches highest monthly avg in 8 yrs despite Grap

Delhi's PM2.5 level in November reached its highest monthly average in eight years despite the implementation of GRAP measures, a recent report has revealed. A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) highlighted that Delhi's PM2.5 concentration soared to an average of 249 micrograms per cubic metre in November -- the highest since 2017 -- despite enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and a decrease in stubble burning incidents. In November 2016, the average PM2.5 level was recorded at 254 micrograms per cubic metre, the highest November reading, followed by 249 micrograms per cubic metre this year. PM2.5 are fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, about the width of a human hair. These are so small that these can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks. A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) highlighted that Delhi's PM2.5 concentration soared

Delhi's air in 'poor' category with AQI of 274; SC retains Grap-IV measures

Despite Delhi's AQI improving to 274, the Supreme Court said that it will retain Grap-IV restrictions, citing the need for a sustained downward trend in air pollution levels

Grap IV hardly enforced? SC questions Delhi govt on air pollution crisis

The Supreme Court emphasised the need for a 'downward trend' in air pollution levels in Delhi NCR before considering easing restrictions under Grap-IV

SC refuses to relax Grap-4 restrictions unless AQI shows 'downward trend'

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax emergency measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) dealing with air pollution in the national capital till it noticed a downward trend in the AQI level. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih further sought the presence of the chief secretaries of NCR states to appear through video-conferencing to inform it whether or not any compensation was paid to the construction workers who were without work owing to the restrictions. Notably, there has to be a downward trend before the Supreme Court relaxes GRAP 4 restrictions. The bench said the chief secretaries of NCR states including Delhi, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan will have to appear through video-conferencing at 3.30pm on December 5. "There is hardly any implementation of stage 4 of GRAP to deal with air pollution in the national capital, remarked the bench, questioning the Delhi government on the number of officers deployed by it to implement the