Delhi's Air Quality Crisis Continues
Delhi's air quality remained firmly in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, delivering another day of hazardous breathing conditions for the capital's residents. According to data from the Air Quality Early Warning System, the city recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 341. This reading came just a day after a minor improvement that saw the AQI drop by 28 points to 369.
For nearly half of November, Delhi's citizens have been trapped under a toxic blanket of smog, with pollution levels oscillating between 'very poor' and the more severe 'severe' category. The recent lifting of restrictions under the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP 3) has provided little respite, with many parts of the city still grappling with significant breathing difficulties.
City Landmarks Shrouded in Hazardous Smog
On Saturday morning, iconic locations like India Gate and Kartavya Path were once again engulfed in a thick layer of smog, registering an AQI of 346. The haze also stubbornly persisted across Anand Vihar and Dhaula Kuan, where morning walkers proceeded with extreme caution.
Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board painted a grim picture across multiple monitoring stations. Areas including Alipur (319), Anand Vihar (354), and Aya Nagar (324) all remained in the 'very poor' category. The primary pollutant continued to be the dangerous PM2.5 particulate matter.
The situation was even more critical in industrial zones. Bawana recorded an AQI of 364, Narela reached 387, and Okhla Phase 2 reported 340. A slight silver lining was observed near the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where air quality fell into the 'poor' category with a reading of 295.
Public Health Concerns and Government Response
Local residents expressed escalating anxiety about the health implications of the prolonged pollution exposure. Many reported symptoms like eye irritation and breathing discomfort. Some individuals also voiced concerns about the potential drift of airborne volcanic ash from Ethiopia, though experts later downplayed this threat.
Atul, a cyclist at Kartavya Path, shared his distressing experience with ANI. "Nothing can be seen around here. Today I didn't wear the mask, thinking I could do it, but as soon as I came out, I felt it: my eyes were getting irritated, so I put the mask back on and got out. It is very difficult to live here," he stated. He added that while government efforts appear visible "on social media," their impact isn't significantly felt on the ground.
Another resident, Bhavya Bansal, acknowledged that the government seems to be taking some steps to manage pollution but also worried about potential international factors. "Pollution is there, but if we see that the government is also working, we could see the work being done. But it seems that from the volcano which has erupted, its ashes could make (air quality) worse," he told ANI. Bansal noted that breathing feels noticeably more difficult in Delhi compared to other cities he visits.
The political dimension of the crisis has intensified with the winter session of Parliament approaching. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has demanded a discussion on the emergency, directly criticizing the central government in a social media post. "Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry. Modi ji, India's children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?" he wrote.
On the administrative front, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta reaffirmed the administration's commitment to addressing the situation. "The government is monitoring the situation daily and taking appropriate steps regularly to curb pollution. The steps we take today will give results in the future," she stated on Friday.
Environmental expert Vimlendu Jha provided some context regarding the volcanic ash concerns, indicating that ash clouds from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano were unlikely to have an "immediate impact" on Delhi's AQI. However, he suggested that effects might be felt in the Himalayas, the Tarai belt, and neighboring regions.
The Commission for Air Quality had withdrawn GRAP 3 measures just four days prior, citing signs of improvement and reinstating GRAP 2 rules across the National Capital Region. Despite this regulatory change, pollution levels have remained stubbornly elevated, leaving Delhi's residents waiting for meaningful relief from the toxic air.
