Page 38 - Latest Updates on Delhi air quality

Delhi's AQI hits 'very poor' as air quality worsens amid pollution crisis

Delhi's air quality hits 'very poor' with an AQI of 307; firecracker ban in effect until January 1 as authorities aim to curb pollution

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BJP's 'dirty politics' responsible for growing pollution in Delhi: Atishi

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Sunday said one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the Anand Vihar area is the influx of buses from other states, adding the Delhi government will engage with the Uttar Pradesh government to implement anti-pollution measures at their bus depot near the national capital. She made these remarks while inspecting pollution control measures at the Anand Vihar bus depot along with Environment Minister Gopal Rai. Highlighting the issue, Atishi said, "Anand Vihar, which lies on the Delhi-UP border, remains a hotspot where AQI levels are the highest. This area sees a large influx of buses from outside Delhi, and there is also the Kaushambi bus depot nearby. While Delhi runs CNG and electric buses, the Kaushambi bus depot receives diesel buses. We plan to engage with the UP government to implement pollution control measures there as well. Constructions by the NCRTC and RRTS has also contributed to pollution levels in the area, she said, adding the Delhi

Delhi's AQI improves to 'poor' category; political blame game erupts

A recent survey revealed that 36 per cent of the families in Delhi-NCR have one or more members experiencing pollution-related health problems

Changing weather responsible for Delhi's poor air quality: Gopal Rai

Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to the 'poor' category due to changing weather conditions and the pollution level is expected to worsen after Diwali, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Saturday. Rai told PTI Videos that the Delhi government is doing everything it can to control dust pollution and needs the cooperation of residents. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the 'poor' category with a reading of 273 at 9 am on Saturday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. In some areas, the air quality was worse. The AQI in Mundka and Bawana stood at 366, Wazirpur 355, Jahangirpuri 347 and Anand Vihar 333, all in the 'very poor' category, the data showed. Rai said Delhi's air quality has dropped to the 'poor' category due to changing weather conditions and with temperatures dropping, the situation could deteriorate further. It is likely to worsen after Diwali, he said. "For such emergencies, we have written to the central government," the minis

36% of Delhi-NCR families experiencing pollution-related ailments: Survey

Amid deteriorating air quality, 36 per cent of the families in Delhi-NCR have one or more members experiencing pollution-related ailments like sore throat, cough, and breathing difficulty, a survey revealed. With over 21,000 responses from the residents of Delhi-NCR, the survey -- conducted by digital platform LocalCircles -- has revealed the impacts of air pollution on the people of the national capital region. The findings show that 36 per cent of families have one or more members experiencing sore throat, cough, and breathing difficulty due to pollution and 27 per cent of the families have one or more members with a runny nose and congestion. Twenty-seven per cent of respondents said they were not facing any health issues related to the poor air quality, according to the survey. With Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) in the "poor" category, the survey asked the respondents about their plans to cope. The survey highlighted that only 18 per cent of the respondents intend to use air

Delhi govt forms committees to control air pollution at 13 hotspots

Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the government has formed a coordination committee each to identify and mitigate local sources of pollution at 13 locations in the city stifled with "very poor" air. Rai at a press conference said that while whole of Delhi is breathing 'poor' air, it is particularly 'very poor' at 13 hotspots, where the Air Quality Index has crossed 300. Narela, Bawana, Mundka, Wazirpur, Rohini, R K Puram, Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Mayapuri, and Dwarka Sector-8 have been identified as these 13 places. Rai said the committees will be headed by the deputy commissioners of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He added that DPCC engineers are also designated at all hotspots and they will submit daily reports to a 'Pollution War Room'. Dust has been identified as one of the major factors at 13 hotspots for 300-plus AQI, he said, adding, 80 mobile anti-smog guns have been deployed to bring the air dust down in these areas.

Delhi air quality crisis sparks blame game; Congress slams AAP, Centre

While the air pollution crisis in Delhi is a recurring issue, it holds additional significance this year due to upcoming Assembly elections in the union territory

Delhi in red: Air quality dips further; many places log 'very poor' index

Delhi's neighbours Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Haryana's Gurugram also reeled from poor air quality levels. Delhi's Mundka logged one of the poorest AQIs at 377, which is very close to 'severe' mark

Delhi pollution level soars on 4th consecutive day, 13 stations in 'red'

Delhi residents endured the fourth consecutive day of 'poor' air quality on Thursday, with indicators at 13 monitoring stations across the city being in the 'red zone', up from two the day before. The 13 stations -- Ashok Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Bawana, Burari, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Okhla Phase 2, Shadipur, and Vivek Vihar -- recorded readings above 300, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The overall air quality remained in the 'poor' category for the fourth consecutive day, with an average 24-hour reading of 285 recorded at 4 pm. The city witnessed a cloudy sky through the day with a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, according to the weather department. On Thursday, relative humidity fluctuated between 91 percent and 55 percent, with the minimum temperature settling at 20.3 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average. The IMD has forecast a mainly clear sky for Friday,

DPCC launches dust control portal for construction projects in Delhi

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has launched a "Dust Pollution Control Self-Assessment" portal mandating all construction and demolition projects in the national capital to register on it and upload regular dust control audits. In line with the directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on December 20, 2021, the DPCC now mandates that all construction and demolition (C&D) projects occupying a plot area of 500 square metre or more must register on a newly-developed web portal, the pollution control authority said in a notice. The portal is designed to facilitate online self-assessment and remote monitoring, ensuring that dust control measures are properly implemented across construction sites. It requires project proponents to conduct regular self-audits of dust control practices and submit fortnightly self-declarations, the notice said. Additionally, sites within the municipal areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) with plot sizes of 500

500 km of bad roads: Delhi govt's increasing pollution woes

A recent survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi indicates that nearly 500 km of roads are in dilapidated state, significantly adding to dust pollution

As Delhi air quality turns 'red', here's what is prohibited under Grap-I

The air pollution control measures, as outlined in the 27-point Grap-I action plan, came into effect across the National Capital Region starting at 8 am on October 15

Delhi's air quality turns 'poor', GRAP stage 1 restrictions implemented

Restrictions under the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force in the national capital on Tuesday as the air quality remained in the 'poor' category for the third consecutive day. Stage 1 of the GRAP, a set of winter-specific anti-pollution measures, focuses on controlling pollution through dust mitigation at construction sites, proper waste management, and regular road cleaning. It mandates strict checks on polluting vehicles, better traffic management and emission controls in industries, power plants and brick kilns. GRAP Stage 1 also bans the open burning of waste, limits the use of diesel generators and prohibits the use of coal or firewood in eateries. Air quality in Delhi has continued to remain in the 'poor' category, with a reading of 207 on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The city's AQI dipped to the 'poor' zone after Dussehra. The minimum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 17.4 degrees Celsius, two notch

Delhi's air quality index hits 'poor' levels; Grap Stage-I enforced

Delhi and its neighbouring regions will begin enforcing a 27-point action plan aimed at curbing pollution and stabilising the city's declining air quality

Delhi minister urges Centre to expedite cloud seeding to curb air pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has urged the centre to convene an urgent meeting with key stakeholders to expedite approvals for cloud seeding, an emergency measure aimed at reducing the anticipated winter pollution spike in the capital. In a letter sent to the Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Thursday, Rai highlighted the critical need for timely action before air pollution levels, particularly after Diwali, escalate to 'hazardous'. He stressed on the importance of coordinating with various agencies to secure the necessary clearances for effective deployment of cloud seeding technology. "We have already experienced a delay of approximately one month in the efforts for cloud seeding in Delhi, and with air quality likely to deteriorate to 'hazardous' levels by early November, I once again request you to immediately convene meetings with all relevant stakeholders, he wrote. The Delhi Government had explored cloud seeding as a pollution mitigation strategy last year

Stubble burning: From Ground Zero in Punjab, bad news for Delhi-NCR

Govts step up efforts, but farmers say policies unclear, assistance insufficient

CAQM revisits study: Vehicles, dust, industries lead Delhi-NCR pollution

In Delhi, road dust and transportation are the primary sources of PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants, while industrial emissions dominate in the NCR region

'Total non-compliance': SC raps CAQM over failing to curb Delhi's pollution

The Supreme Court had sought a comprehensive explanation from the CAQM regarding the actions it has taken to address stubble burning

CAQM revises GRAP, bans non-BS-VI buses in Delhi if AQI hits severe level

This restriction aims to reduce vehicular emissions, one of the major contributors to air pollution, especially during the winter months when smog levels rise significantly