Delhi AQI: Capital’s air quality remains 'very poor’, Ghaziabad becomes India's most polluted city  

Delhi AQI

A thick, hazardous haze continued to smother Delhi for a fifth consecutive day, with air quality remaining firmly in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday. Despite a marginal improvement, the capital’s air posed a significant health risk to its residents, with forecasts predicting a return to ‘severe’ levels in the coming days.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 341 at 6 am. This marked a slight reprieve from Monday’s 359 and Sunday’s 377, a change attributed to an increase in wind speed.

However, the relief was uneven and fragile. Several areas, including Wazirpur (410), Bawana (419) and Jahangirpuri (414), were already plunged into the ‘severe’ zone, where the air is considered dangerous for all.

The crisis extended beyond the capital’s borders. The CPCB’s daily bulletin revealed that on Monday, Ghaziabad had earned the grim distinction of being the most polluted city in the country. With an AQI of 401, it was the only city nationwide to be classified as ‘severe’. Specific areas within Ghaziabad, such as Sanjay Nagar, recorded a staggering AQI of 433.

Amidst the escalating environmental emergency, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to implement drastic pollution-control measures. A bench led by Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai rejected petitions for measures like a year-round construction ban or sweeping limits on vehicular movement, stating that Delhi “cannot be brought to a standstill” in the name of fighting toxic air.

Responding to arguments that the capital had become a “gas chamber” requiring “drastic steps,” the Chief Justice reportedly emphasised the human cost of such actions. “We have to also think of migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who are here to work and are daily wagers,” the bench, which included Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, observed. “The solution proposed cannot be worse than the problem.”

With the judiciary ruling out stringent interventions, the existing Stage 3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remain in effect. These were activated on November 11 when the capital’s AQI first touched the ‘severe’ category.

The forecast offers little hope. The Early Warning System (EWS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences predicts that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain ‘very poor’ until at least November 20. The India Meteorological Department has forecast no rain, a natural cleanser, in the immediate future.

The foul air coincides with a sharp drop in temperature, adding to the public health challenge. On Monday, the city shivered through its coldest November night since 2022, with the minimum temperature plunging to 8.7 degrees Celsius.

Health experts and the EWS advisory continue to recommend stringent personal precautions. Residents are advised to avoid stepping outside as much as possible, wear N95 masks when outdoors and opt for indoor exercise. The use of air purifiers in homes and cars is strongly recommended, with a reminder to clean HEPA filters regularly to maintain efficacy and control winter allergens, which can be exacerbated by the high levels of pollution.