Delhi's Air Quality Plummets to Severe Levels Amid Ongoing Pollution Crisis

Severe Air Quality Crisis in Delhi

On Thursday morning, a toxic haze enveloped Delhi as the air quality remained classified as 'severe'.

According to the Sameer application, which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board, 27 out of 39 monitoring stations in the capital recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) levels exceeding 400, indicating severe pollution.

The average AQI for Delhi was reported at 405.

The AQI scale categorizes air quality as follows: values between 0 and 50 are considered 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', and 101 to 200 as 'moderate'. As the index rises, air quality worsens, with 201 to 300 classified as 'poor', and 301 to 400 as 'very poor'. Values from 401 to 450 indicate 'severe' pollution, while anything above 450 is categorized as 'severe plus'.

When the AQI reaches the 'severe' category, it signifies hazardous pollution levels that can endanger even healthy individuals.

Delhi's pollution levels escalated to 'severe' on Tuesday, prompting the implementation of Stage 3 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

GRAP consists of a series of incremental anti-pollution measures activated to mitigate further deterioration of air quality once it surpasses a specific threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.

Stage 3 restrictions include a ban on non-essential construction activities, the closure of stone crushers and mining operations, in addition to previously imposed measures from Stages 1 and 2.

Furthermore, primary schools up to Class 5 have transitioned to a hybrid mode, allowing parents and students to choose between offline and online classes where available.

The use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles is also restricted in Delhi and the NCR. Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS norms) are regulations established by the Indian government to limit air pollutants from vehicles.

Air quality in Delhi typically worsens during the winter months, often ranking as the world's most polluted capital.

Factors contributing to this pollution crisis include stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, firecracker usage, vehicular emissions, lower temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and discharges from industries and coal-fired power plants.

Since mid-October, the air quality in the national capital has consistently been categorized as 'poor' or worse, leading to the enforcement of anti-pollution measures under GRAP.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court instructed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit reports detailing their actions to combat stubble burning, following reports of Delhi's air quality reaching 'severe' levels and the subsequent activation of Stage 3 of GRAP.