Delhi-NCR Air Quality Remains Hazardous with 'Severe' Pollution Levels in Multiple Areas

It's going to be a no-brainer for you- Delhi-NCR's air quality stayed hazardously poor, while reaching 'severe' category at most of the locations in the region.

Central Pollution Control Board reports Delhi's average AQI till 7:30 A.M. stands 358. In Delhi, since day one, the AQI has been higher than 400; at such 'severe' levels found at locations like Bawana with 412, Mundka with 419, NSIT Dwarka with 447 and Wazirpur with 421.

The air quality index of other districts remained above 300 but there were a few districts having the value less than it. Those were Alipur 372, Ashok Vihar 398, Burari Crossing 370, Jahangirpuri 398, IGI Airport 347, New Moti Bagh 381, R.K. Puram 373, Dilshad Garden 358, DTU 355, North Campus DU 373, Siri Fort 341, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium 315, Najafgarh 354 and Punjabi Bagh 388.

All of these regions of the national Capital showed 'very poor' levels of air quality, meaning they pose severe health threats.
The NCR also witnessed high AQI readings at Faridabad (234), Gurugram (304), Ghaziabad (276), Greater Noida (274) and Noida (266).

The CPCB classified the levels of AQI, where it defined good between 0-50, satisfactory between 51-100, moderate between 101-200, poor between 201-300, very poor between 301-400, severe between 401-450, and severe plus to levels greater than 450.

The 24-hour AQI in Delhi, for the first time ever in this country, breached on Monday at an average level of 381, making it one of the country's highest recorded AQI.

Adding to this poor air quality, the India Meteorological Department said a visibility of 1,800 metres was recorded over the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, while it was 2,100 meters the previous night.
Meanwhile, dense, toxic foam was found floating over the Yamuna River at Kalindi Kunj. The river is still flowing with higher levels of pollution.

To control the increasing pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management has undertaken several measures to control pollution, including the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Severe penalties have been imposed on polluting construction sites, vehicles, and industries, and road dust control efforts are being made with about 600 mechanical road-sweeping machines, water sprinklers, and anti-smog guns in the National Capital Region (NCR).