Delhi’s Air Quality Shows Slight Improvement; Pollution Remains ‘Very Poor’

Delhi witnessed a minor improvement in air quality on Wednesday, aided by strong surface winds, though pollution levels continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category, officials reported.

Shallow fog was observed in several parts of the city during the morning hours. The national capital’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 328 at 8 AM, a slight improvement from 354 recorded at 4 PM on Tuesday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), steady winds blowing at 7–10 km/h helped disperse pollutants to some extent.

Safdarjung reported the lowest visibility at 900 metres, while Palam recorded 1,100 metres under misty conditions.

Officials expect air quality to remain poor in the coming days despite the marginal improvement.

The Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) predicts that AQI levels will remain in the ‘very poor’ category from December 17 to 19, with fluctuations between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ likely from December 20 onwards.

Monitoring stations across Delhi continued to report alarming pollution levels. Bawana recorded the highest AQI at 378, followed by Mundka (370), Pusa (365), and Rohini (364).

Areas such as ITO, Wazirpur, and Nehru Nagar reported AQI values around 360, while central localities, including Chandni Chowk (328), Punjabi Bagh (339), and North Campus, Delhi University (319), remained firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.

Some areas recorded slightly better readings, with Burari Crossing at 298, IGI Airport Terminal 3 at 263, IIT Delhi at 300, and CRRI Mathura Road at 297, though conditions remained unhealthy.

AQI notes that breathing Delhi’s air under current conditions is comparable to smoking approximately 8.5 cigarettes daily.

Advisory for Residents

Authorities have advised residents to limit outdoor exposure, use air purifiers, wear N95 masks, and stay indoors as much as possible.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticised the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming it is unrealistic to drastically reduce AQI levels within nine to ten months and apologised for the persistent pollution.

AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj countered the remarks on social media, accusing the minister of deflecting responsibility and questioning earlier claims of air quality improvement during the monsoon season.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI readings of 301–400 as ‘very poor’, with values above 400 falling into the ‘severe’ category, highlighting the urgent need for continued mitigation measures.

Also Read: Air Quality Eases Across Delhi-NCR; Several Areas Still In ‘Severe’ Zone