Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates; Smog Blankets National Capital

Delhi’s air quality continues to deteriorate, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering in the ‘very poor’ range on Tuesday.

A thick blanket of smog has enveloped many areas in the national capital, raising alarms among health experts and residents alike.

At 8 AM, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an AQI reading of 384.

However, the air quality has worsened in various parts of the city, with several locations surpassing the critical 400 mark, which categorizes the air as ‘severe.’

The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) highlighted that areas such as Anand Vihar and Vivek Vihar recorded AQI levels of 457 and 424, respectively, both of which pose significant health risks, especially for vulnerable populations.

Additional troubling figures emerged from other neighborhoods, with:

• Mundka registering an AQI of 416,
• Ashok Vihar at 418,
• New Moti Bagh at 414, and
• Dwarka Sector 8 at 404

Although some regions like Pusa and RK Puram reported slightly lower AQI levels of 364 and 396, respectively, they still fall into the ‘poor’ category.

The classification of air quality is crucial, as officials label levels between 200 and 300 as ‘poor,’ categorize those from 301 to 400 as ‘very poor,’ and define levels exceeding 400 as ‘severe.’

Levels above 450 are classified as ‘severe plus,’ indicating an extreme level of pollution.

Supreme Court Questions Firecracker Ban Enforcement Amid Air Quality Crisis

Amid these alarming conditions, the Supreme Court has raised concerns regarding the enforcement of firecracker bans intended to mitigate pollution during the recent Diwali celebrations.

During a session on Monday, the court questioned the Delhi government on how the ban was disregarded, leading to heightened pollution levels.

Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih directed the Delhi government to submit an affidavit outlining the actions taken to combat pollution and to enforce the firecracker ban effectively.

The bench emphasized reports indicating that the ban was largely ineffective and demanded a detailed response from the authorities.

In her remarks, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Archana Pathak Dave noted a significant failure to comply with the firecracker restrictions during Diwali.

Reports suggested that pollution levels surged dramatically, with the pollution percentage spiking from 10% to 27% on the festival day, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement measures.

The court has called for the Delhi government and the Police Commissioner to outline proposed strategies to ensure better compliance with pollution regulations in the future.

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