Delhi witnessed a marginal improvement in its air quality for the second day in a row on Thursday. However, the pollution levels in the national capital continued to be a significant cause for concern, remaining in the 'poor' category.
Current AQI Status and Trends
According to the latest data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 234 at 4 pm on Thursday. This reading indicates a notable recovery from the 'severe' level of 412 recorded on Tuesday. It also marks an improvement from Wednesday's 4 pm AQI of 271.
Out of the 40 functional air monitoring stations across Delhi, the situation presented a mixed picture. Ten stations reported 'moderate' air quality with AQI levels below 200. These included areas like Lodhi Road, IIT Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3), and Aya Nagar. In contrast, a majority of 27 stations continued to log readings in the 'poor' category.
Pockets of High Pollution Remain
Despite the overall improvement, two locations—Jahangirpuri and Bawana—recorded 'very poor' air quality, with their AQI levels crossing the 300 mark. This highlights the persistent and localized nature of the pollution crisis.
Forecast and Major Pollution Sources
Environmental agencies have warned that the reprieve might be short-lived. Forecasts indicate that Delhi's air quality is likely to deteriorate back to the 'very poor' category in the coming days, raising alarms for residents and authorities alike.
Data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management pinpointed the primary contributors to Delhi's polluted air on Wednesday. Vehicular emissions emerged as the largest single source, accounting for 18.5% of the city's pollution load. Industries located in Delhi and its adjoining areas contributed 9.5%, followed by construction activities (2.5%) and waste burning (1.6%).
The data also revealed the significant impact of regional factors. Among the districts in the National Capital Region (NCR), Jhajjar in Haryana was the highest external contributor to Delhi's pollution at 17.6%. It was followed by Rohtak (5.9%) and Sonipat (3.1%).
Understanding the AQI Scale
For context, the CPCB classifies AQI from 0 to 50 as 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and 401 to 500 as 'severe'. Delhi's current 'poor' AQI between 201 and 300 can lead to breathing discomfort for most people on prolonged exposure.
