Delhi Air Quality Improves Yet Remains in "Poor" Category Despite GRAP Stage II Implementation

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi registered at 259 as of 8 am today. (File)

New Delhi:

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) showed improvement Saturday morning but continued to remain in the "poor" category, with Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) currently implemented across Delhi-NCR.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) measured 259 at 8 am today.

In south-west Delhi, RK Puram recorded an AQI of 265, while Patparganj measured 263, both falling under the "poor" classification. Anand Vihar in east Delhi, however, recorded a significantly higher AQI of 412, placing it in the 'severe' category.

Authorities deployed truck-mounted water sprinklers on Janpath Road to combat high levels of particulate matter, as multiple areas continued to experience 'very poor' air quality.

Additional areas of concern included Bawana with an AQI of 336 classified as 'very poor,' and ITO registering an AQI of 248. Dwarka recorded a relatively lower but still problematic AQI of 276, remaining within the 'poor' range, illustrating the uneven distribution of pollution throughout the capital.

As Delhi struggles with worsening air quality, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated on Friday that cloud seeding has become essential for the national capital, describing it as a groundbreaking approach to addressing the city's ongoing environmental crisis.

In conversation with ANI, Rekha Gupta explained, "Cloud seeding is a necessity for Delhi and represents the first experiment of its kind. We want to implement it in Delhi to determine if it can help us manage this critical environmental challenge."

She further stated, "The blessings of Delhi's residents are with the government, and we believe this experiment will succeed, allowing us to overcome these environmental problems in the future."

On Friday, former AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria warned residents about the significant health consequences of increasing pollution levels and advocated for preventive measures to reduce exposure.

"The current elevated levels of air pollution, indicated by poor AQI readings, are causing acute health effects, especially among individuals with underlying heart or lung conditions, elderly people, and young children. These vulnerable groups are experiencing increased chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, coughing, and worsening of pre-existing conditions such as asthma and COPD," Dr Guleria told ANI.

He added, "Even healthy individuals report symptoms including nasal congestion, throat irritation, chest tightness, and coughing. The inflammation and constriction of airways caused by pollutants contribute to these problems. Additionally, the use of firecrackers, despite permissions limited to 'green crackers,' has worsened air pollution."

Previously, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa mentioned that clouds would be present over Delhi from October 28 to 30 and indicated that the Delhi government has completed physical trials and obtained permissions to induce artificial rain on October 29.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has been consistently falling under 'poor' and 'very poor' categories across numerous areas, despite the continued implementation of Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).