‘Worst Air Quality in the last 102 Days in Delhi’ - CPCB

It’s around that time of the year when Delhi suffocates under the continuous bad air quality for the next 4 months. According to the Central Pollution Control Board bulletin, the AQI in Delhi was 211 yesterday, worsened by slow winds and local emissions. This has happened for the first time in the last 102 days.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced measures under ‘stage-1’ of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the national capital with immediate effect. The action plan includes legal and penal action against polluting industrial units. CAQM has immediately banned all construction and demolition projects carried over on an area of 500 sqm.

According to the order issued by the CAQM: “It was noted that there has been a sudden dip in air quality parameters in the last 24 hours in the region which led to the AQI for Delhi moving into the “POOR” category. While this is likely to be a localized influence and the forecasts do not predict any further deterioration, to maintain the AQI in the moderate category, as a precautionary measure, the sub-committee decided that ALL actions as envisaged under Stage I of the GRAP - ‘Poor’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR.”

IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality technology company, mentioned that with PM 2.5 concentration in Delhi, the air quality is currently 3.8 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. The Delhi air quality index (AQI) forecast for the next 5 days says the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups:

Friday, October 7- 106 US AQI

Saturday, October 8- 111 US AQI

Sunday, October 9- 130 US AQI

Monday, October 10- 142 US AQI

Tuesday, October 11- 128 US AQI

IQAir also suggested health recommendations for the next 5 days citing that citizens should close their windows to avoid dirty outdoor air and sensitive groups should reduce outdoor exercise to protect themselves from air pollution in Delhi.

Prolonged exposure to poor air quality can cause breathing discomfort to most people while very poor air quality can lead to respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.