Residents of Gurgaon finally breathed a sigh of relief on Friday as the city's air quality improved to the 'moderate' category after enduring over two months of consistently 'poor' to 'very poor' conditions. The Air Quality Index (AQI) plummeted to 187, a significant drop from 312 recorded the previous day, driven by strong winds that helped disperse accumulated pollutants.
Uneven Improvement Across Monitoring Stations
This marks the first time since October 29, when the AQI was 150, that Gurgaon has recorded moderate air. However, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that the improvement was not uniform across the city. While Sector 51 recorded an AQI of 161 and Gwal Pahari 179—both in the moderate range—the air quality remained 'poor' at Vikas Sadan (206) and Teri Gram (231).
Independent air quality expert Sachin Panwar attributed the change to a shift in weather patterns. "The formation of a depression over the Indian Ocean strengthened wind flow across north India, making air movement more fluid," Panwar explained. "This led to faster dilution of pollutants and effectively flushed the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain."
Restrictions Lifted, But High Particulate Pollution Persists
Following the improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked actions under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region with immediate effect. This means:
- Non-essential construction and demolition activities, including excavation and road works, can resume.
- Schools up to Class V can return to full physical classes.
- Government and private offices may operate normally.
Measures under Stages I and II of GRAP will continue, and all activities must adhere to existing pollution-control norms.
Despite the better AQI reading, particulate pollution levels remain alarmingly high. PM2.5 concentrations, the most hazardous pollutant, exceeded safe limits at all stations:
- Gwal Pahari: 374 µg/m³
- Vikas Sadan: 358 µg/m³
- Teri Gram: 357 µg/m³
- Sector 51: 305 µg/m³
These figures are far above the World Health Organisation's (WHO) safe guideline of 15 µg/m³ and even the CPCB's annual limit of 60 µg/m³. PM10 levels were also critically high across monitoring locations.
Forecast Warns of Deteriorating Air Quality Soon
The respite is likely to be brief. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar) has forecast that air quality is likely to revert to the 'poor' to 'very poor' category in the coming days.
Safar's analysis indicates that surface winds are expected to remain weak in the mornings, blowing from the west at speeds below 10 kmph. While wind speeds may increase slightly in the afternoon, they will weaken again by evening. The forecast ventilation index for Saturday is about 5,500 m²/s, with a maximum mixing depth of 1,300 metres.
"A ventilation index below 6,000 m²/s, along with average wind speeds of less than 10kmph, is not favourable for effective dispersion of pollutants," the Safar bulletin stated, indicating that conditions are becoming conducive for pollution accumulation once again.
