According to the Central Pollution Control Board, pollution levels in Delhi and its suburbs rose over night. The capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was measured at 365 at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
At 4 p.m. on Monday, the city’s AQI was 348, down from 301 on Sunday.
Every day at 4 p.m., the 24-hour average AQI was reported as 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday, and 419 on Thursday.
‘Poor’ air quality was also reported in nearby Ghaziabad (340), Gurugram (324), Greater Noida (306), Noida (338), and Faridabad (336).
An AQI of 0–50 is regarded as “good,” 51–100 as “satisfactory,” 101–200 as “moderate,” 201–300 as “poor,” 301–400 as “very poor,” 401–450 as “severe,” and 450 and above as “severe plus.”
In response to a decrease in pollution levels brought on by favorable wind speed and direction, the Center lifted strict limits on Saturday, including a prohibition on building activities associated with linear projects and the admission of vehicles that emit pollution into Delhi.
These actions make up the last phase, or Stage IV, of the Center’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which is its strategy for reducing air pollution.
The National Capital Region and Adjoining Area Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body tasked with developing strategies to combat pollution in the area, has asked Delhi and NCR states to lift all emergency measures. These measures allow only CNG, electric, and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states to enter Delhi, with the exception of those providing essential services.
Under Stage IV of GRAP, all medium- and heavy-duty trucks that were not performing critical services were likewise prohibited from operating in the capital.
The most recent CAQM ruling states that all other restrictions under GRAP stages I, II, and III—such as the prohibition on mining, stone crushers, non-essential building activities, and diesel generators—will remain in place.
The India Meteorological Department said that Delhi’s lowest temperature on Tuesday was 11.5 degrees Celsius, which is a degree below the season’s normal.
At 8:30 am, the relative humidity was measured at 91%.
Shallow fog is expected throughout the day, according to the IMD. It is expected that the highest temperature will be around 26 degrees Celsius.
