About Delhi’s Air Quality Remains ‘Moderate,’ AQI Drops to 113:
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Wednesday, showing slight improvement compared to earlier in the week. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 113 at 7 am, a drop from 153 on Monday morning. The city’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 148 at 4 pm, indicating better air quality conditions.
Air Quality Across Delhi-NCR
The air quality has improved across Delhi-NCR due to recent rainfall. In the neighbouring cities:
- Gurugram recorded an AQI of 226, categorizing it under the ‘poor’ category.
- Noida reported an AQI of 146, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category.
- Ghaziabad had an AQI of 232, which falls under the ‘poor’ category.
AQI Classification by CPCB
The CPCB classifies air quality into six categories:
- 0–50 (Good)
- 51–100 (Satisfactory)
- 101–200 (Moderate)
- 201–300 (Poor)
- 301–400 (Very Poor)
- 401–500 (Severe)
Factors Behind the Improvement
Favourable weather conditions, including strong winds and light rain, have played a significant role in dispersing pollutants. This has led to an overall improvement in air quality across the region. Meteorologists predict that the AQI will remain in the ‘moderate’ category for the coming week as weather conditions continue to support pollutant dispersion.
Revocation of GRAP Stage-I Restrictions
With pollution levels easing, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Sub-Committee decided to revoke Stage-I restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday. The decision was taken due to improved weather conditions, increased mixing heights, and strong surface winds, all of which have contributed to better air quality.
Delhi’s Weather Update
Delhi residents experienced chilly winds on Wednesday morning, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. This has led to a shift in Delhi-NCR’s weather, with mild cold and possibly foggy mornings. The minimum temperature is expected to drop to 11 degrees Celsius, while the maximum may reach 26 degrees Celsius. The day is expected to be marked by strong surface winds and warm weather conditions.
As air quality continues to improve, authorities and residents remain hopeful that the favourable weather patterns will help maintain better environmental conditions across Delhi and its neighbouring regions.
