After A Day Of Very Poor Air Quality, Delhi's AQI Slips Back To Severe

The air quality of Delhi deteriorated to 'severe' on Wednesday morning, with an average AQI of 420 at 8 a.m.

According to the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Anand Vihar was recorded at 452, while it was at 433, 460, 482, and 413 at RK Puram, Punjabi Bagh, Sri Aurobindo Marg, and Shadipur, all in the 'severe' category.

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Delhi's average AQI had marginally improved on Tuesday and was at 394, which is categorised as 'very poor'.

It was also the 'best' air quality Delhi had recorded in a week.

What is behind Delhi's air pollution?

Air pollution increases every year during the winter months in Delhi NCR due to several reasons, including dust and vehicular emissions, low wind speed, and stubble burning.

Air quality has been declining in Delhi NCR over the last two weeks due to a gradual drop in temperatures, calm winds that trap pollution, and a surge in post-harvest paddy straw burning across Punjab and Haryana.

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How stubble burning is affecting Delhi's air quality

According to data from the Decision Support System, a numerical model-based framework capable of identifying sources of particulate matter pollution in Delhi, stubble burning in neighbouring states, especially Punjab and Haryana, accounted for 37 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi on Tuesday. It is likely to be 33 per cent on Wednesday.

When will odd-even be implemented?

Meanwhile, a war of words has broken out between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor over the odd-even vehicle restrictions in the national capital after the Supreme Court questioned their efficacy on Tuesday.

An official release from LG's Office said: "The much-publicised odd-even scheme to fight air pollution post-Diwali that was announced by the AAP Government yesterday is nothing but an attempt to mislead people and courts to divert attention from the ongoing severe crisis in the capital caused by air pollution."

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It said that the file to this effect clearly shows that the decision to implement the odd-even scheme as a part of measures under GRAP-IV was not approved by Environment Minister Rai.

Reacting to this, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that the LG is being misled by his officials.

Rai said that the file they are referring to is dated November 4. "On the basis of this file, the CAQM implemented GRAP-IV. And on November 6, the CM called a meet on air pollution at the Delhi Secretariat. It was decided in this meet that the odd-even scheme will be implemented from November 13 to 20."

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Rai has also called an urgent meeting on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the Supreme Court's observations regarding the odd-even car rationing scheme.

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