In a welcome relief for residents, the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) showed marked improvement on Friday, prompting authorities to roll back stringent anti-pollution measures. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked the curbs imposed under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after the capital's average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped sharply.
Significant Drop in Pollution Levels
Delhi's average AQI plummeted to 236, classified as 'Poor', on Friday. This was a significant recovery from the 'Very Poor' air recorded a day prior, on Thursday, when the index stood at 380. The improvement was not limited to Delhi alone. Key NCR cities also saw better numbers: Noida recorded an AQI of 229 (down from 367) and Gurgaon's air entered the 'Moderate' category with an AQI of 187, a notable drop from Thursday's 312.
The CAQM attributed this positive shift to strong westerly winds, with speeds reaching up to 15 kilometers per hour over the past 24 hours, which helped disperse accumulated pollutants. In its official order, the commission stated that the improvement was due to "strong winds and favourable meteorological conditions."
Fog Alert and a Grim Forecast
Even as the curbs were lifted, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) introduced a note of caution. The weather office issued a 'yellow' alert for fog for Saturday morning, warning of reduced visibility across the region. The forecast predicts moderate fog at many places over the weekend, with pockets of dense fog likely in isolated areas during the morning hours.
More critically, the reprieve from toxic air is expected to be short-lived. Meteorological models indicate that wind speeds will weaken in the coming days, leading to unfavourable conditions for pollutant dispersion. Air quality is likely to deteriorate again, potentially slipping back into the 'Very Poor' category from Sunday, January 5, onwards. The CAQM order acknowledged this, noting that forecasts predict the AQI will remain in the 'Poor' to 'Very Poor' range.
Continued Restrictions and Weather Update
While Stage III restrictions have been lifted, the CAQM clarified that measures under GRAP Stage I and Stage II will remain in force across the NCR. These include ongoing bans on certain construction activities and regulations on industrial operations.
On the weather front, Delhi experienced a cooler day on Friday with the maximum temperature settling at 17.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.9 degrees below the seasonal normal. The minimum temperature was 9.1 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees above average. The IMD has forecast that minimum temperatures are likely to fall by 2-3°C over the next two days, leading to colder nights. On Friday morning, shallow fog reduced visibility to 800 metres at Safdarjung and 1,000 metres at Palam.
The situation presents a mixed bag for Delhi-NCR: a temporary breather from severe pollution but with official warnings of a likely decline in air quality coinciding with foggy conditions in the very near future.
