Delhi is world’s most polluted city again, air quality ‘severe’ at many places

Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the “very poor” category on Sunday, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching 382, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
The data places the city on the cusp of entering the ‘severe’ category (AQI of 400 and above). Despite efforts to mitigate the situation, pollution levels continue to soar, raising concerns among residents.
Interestingly, this deterioration in Delhi’s air quality has been recorded despite the contribution from stubble burning significantly decreasing. On Saturday, stubble burning accounted for only 15 per cent of Delhi’s pollution, a substantial drop from Friday’s figure of over 35 per cent. This reduction indicates that other factors are significantly influencing Delhi’s air quality.
Vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and construction dust remain major contributors to Delhi’s pollution woes. These sources continue to release harmful particulates and gases into the air, compounded by the city’s geographical and meteorological conditions, which often trap pollutants close to the ground. The drop in temperatures and change in wind patterns as winter approaches does little to alleviate the situation.
As the national capital’s AQI is on the brink of entering the ‘severe’ category, several monitoring stations are already reporting alarming figures. Out of the 40 stations spread across Delhi, more than a dozen have already crossed into the ‘severe’ category as of Sunday.
Prominent localities reporting distressing AQI levels include Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, both stations in Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Najafgarh, Lajpat Nagar, Patparganj, Vivek Vihar, Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, and Wazirpur.
Anand Vihar leads the pack with an AQI of 436, closely followed by Rohini at 435, Lajpat Nagar at 430, and Punjabi Bagh at 425. These figures underscore the hazardous air quality levels prevailing in the national capital.
The situation is equally troubling in NCR. The AQI in Haryana’s Bahadurgarh stood at a dangerous 335, Sonipat 321, Gurugram 281, while Noida in UP registered 313, Greater Noida 248, Ghaziabad 290, and Hapur 280. These numbers indicate that the problem extends beyond Delhi, affecting the broader National Capital Region.
A combination of local pollution sources, unfavourable meteorological conditions, and large emissions contribute to this annual crisis. Additionally, stubble burning in neighbouring states further worsens the situation, deteriorating Delhi’s already precarious air quality.