Delhi’s Air Quality Crisis: AQI Hits ‘Severe’ Levels

Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous air quality, with multiple areas recording Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in the “severe” category on Sunday morning.

Key Readings

  • Pusa: 426
  • Punjabi Bagh: 448
  • Jahangirpuri: 467
  • Bawana: 471 (highest in the city)

A few areas, including Lodhi Road, Burari Crossing, and Sri Aurobindo Marg, registered AQI levels around 350, falling under the “very poor” category.

Impact on Daily Life

  • Flight Disruptions: Visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) dropped to 800 meters by 7:30 a.m., leading to 107 flight delays and three cancellations.

Measures to Combat Pollution

Delhi authorities have enforced Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):

  1. Vehicle Restrictions:
  • Ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles.
  • 550 traffic challans issued on November 15 for violations, collecting over ₹1 crore in fines.
  1. Air Quality Monitoring:
  • GRAP classifies air quality into four categories, with the “severe” range set between AQI 401-450, and “severe plus” for AQI >450.

Sources of Pollution

  • Stubble Burning: Accounted for 37% of Delhi’s air pollution as of Thursday.
  • Vehicular Emissions: Contributed 12% to the overall pollution levels.

Authorities are intensifying enforcement to mitigate violations and address the crisis, though the scale of the challenge remains significant.

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