Delhi air quality deteriorates before Diwali, AQI dips to ‘poor’ first time since June

New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital dipped to the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday for the first time this season. The dip in AQI came just a week before Diwali. As per the data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average air quality index (AQI) in the city was 202 (poor) at around 11 am. This is the first time the AQI has been in this range since June 11, when it was 245 (poor).

Experts say that lower wind speeds and cooler nights are leading to the rise in pollution levels. According to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS), there is no immediate improvement in sight. The system expects the air quality to reach the ‘very poor’ category around Diwali.

As per the EWS forecast, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category from October 14 to October 16. For the next six days, the air quality may range between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’, the forecast added.

The CPCB classifies air quality as follows: 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 is ‘moderate’, 201-300 is ‘poor’, 301-400 is ‘very poor’, and 401-500 is ‘severe’.

The Decision Support System (DSS), which tracks the sources of pollution in Delhi’s PM 2.5 levels, reported that stubble burning contributed only about 0.62% on Monday, slightly higher than the 0.24% contribution on Sunday. The AQI forecast for Tuesday showed that stubble burning could contribute 0.49% to the total PM 2.5 in the national capital.

Data also revealed that on Monday, the main sources of PM 2.5 in Delhi were the transport sector (19.6%), followed by emissions from nearby areas like Jhajjar (9.8%) and Sonipat (6.1%).

Typically, Delhi’s AQI worsens in October due to the end of southwest monsoon and cooler air. Along with this, stubble burning also begins during this time in the northern states, firecrackers during festivals, and a drop in temperature or wind speed, worsens the situation.