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Delhi's PM2.5 levels up by 13% on Diwali night this year: Report

The Diwali night this year had higher nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels that indicates high traffic congestion, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. The national capital's PM2.5 levels hit a peak by midnight on Diwali this year, which was 13 per cent higher than the peaks observed last year and in 2022, a recent analysis showed. The Diwali night this year had higher nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels that indicates high traffic congestion, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. The research organisation's report also said unlike previous years, on Diwali night in Delhi, there was a quick build-up of PM2.5 levels and dissipation the next day. "By midnight on October 31, PM2.5 hit a peak of 603 µg/m³, 13 per cent higher than Diwali peaks observed in 2022 and 2023," the report stated.

Delhi's PM 2.5 Levels 13% Higher Than Last Diwali: Report

The national capital's PM2.5 levels hit a peak by midnight on Diwali this year, which was 13 per cent higher than the peaks observed last year and in 2022, a recent analysis showed. Diwali night this year also saw higher nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, which indicates high traffic congestion, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. The research organisation's report also said that unlike previous years there was a quick build-up of PM2.5 levels and dissipation the next day.

'Will Delhi Drink This?’: Swati Maliwal Pours Polluted Water Outside CM Atishi’s Residence

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal visited Chief Minister Atishi’s residence on Saturday, carrying a bottle of contaminated water reportedly supplied to residents in Sagarpur and Dwarka. Expressing her frustration over Delhi’s persistent water crisis, the Rajya Sabha MP poured the polluted water in front of the CM’s residence as a warning, threatening a larger protest if the issue remains unaddressed. "The people of Sagarpur, Dwarka had called me and the situation there is very bad. I went to a house and black water was being supplied there. I filled that black water in a bottle and I brought that water here, at the Chief Minister's residence," Swati Maliwal said. "Since 2015 we have been hearing that next year everything will be fine. That black water which I have brought with me, will Delhi have to drink this water? I warned the Chief Minister that what I have done today is only a glimpse. If within fifteen days she does not fix the water supply of entire Delhi, I will bring a whole tanker full of such water," she warned. "I am leaving this water for her. She can bathe with this water, drink this water or purify her sins... Chhath Puja is coming. Today was Govardhan Puja, yesterday was Diwali and this is the condition of Delhi... Who can drink this water and live? Who can stay alive after drinking this water? The Chief Minister is also the Water Minister. Is her job just to make fun by holding ten press conferences every day?" Maliwal asked as he hit out at Delhi Chief Minister. Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi was sworn in as Delhi’s eighth chief minister on September 21, 2024, after AAP's national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, resigned on September 17. Delhi's PM2.5 levels up by 13% on Diwali night this year: Report The national capital's PM2.5 levels hit a peak by midnight on Diwali this year, which was 13 per cent higher than the peaks observed last year and in 2022, a recent analysis showed. The Diwali night this year had higher nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels that indicates high traffic congestion, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said, as reported by PTI. The research organisation's report also said unlike previous years, on Diwali night in Delhi, there was a quick build-up of PM2.5 levels and dissipation the next day. "By midnight on October 31, PM2.5 hit a peak of 603 µg/m³, 13 per cent higher than Diwali peaks observed in 2022 and 2023," the report stated.

Where's the money?: Climate query surrounds $1 trillion financing proposal amidst uncertainty

An air of uncertainty hangs over a new climate financing proposal under which the world’s rich countries will provide developing nations $1 trillion annually or 10 times more than what they had pledged 15 years ago. Climate analysts tracking national positions ahead of the 29th UN climate change conference in Azerbaijan next month have attributed the uncertainty to silence over the proposal from developed countries that have already reneged on their 2009 pledges. An air of uncertainty hangs over a new climate financing proposal under which the world’s rich countries will provide developing nations $1 trillion annually or 10 times more than what they had pledged 15 years ago. Climate analysts tracking national positions ahead of the 29th UN climate change conference in Azerbaijan next month have attributed the uncertainty to silence over the proposal from developed countries that have already reneged on their 2009 pledges. ADVERTISEMENT The developed countries “have abstained from any engagement on the quantum of finance” to be provided under what is called the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCGQ) on climate finance, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an Indian environmental think tank, has said in a report earlier this week. The NCGQ, expected to be agreed on at the November 11-22 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, will replace the commitments made by the developed countries at the 2009 Copenhagen conference — ratified at subsequent summits — to provide $100 billion a year to developing nations. An air of uncertainty hangs over a new climate financing proposal under which the world’s rich countries will provide developing nations $1 trillion annually or 10 times more than what they had pledged 15 years ago. Climate analysts tracking national positions ahead of the 29th UN climate change conference in Azerbaijan next month have attributed the uncertainty to silence over the proposal from developed countries that have already reneged on their 2009 pledges. ADVERTISEMENT The developed countries “have abstained from any engagement on the quantum of finance” to be provided under what is called the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCGQ) on climate finance, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an Indian environmental think tank, has said in a report earlier this week. The NCGQ, expected to be agreed on at the November 11-22 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, will replace the commitments made by the developed countries at the 2009 Copenhagen conference — ratified at subsequent summits — to provide $100 billion a year to developing nations. ADVERTISEMENT Many analysts assert that those commitments have never been genuinely fulfilled. “The global south has been repeatedly let down by unmet pledges and commitments,” Sunita Narain, the CSE director-general, said. “Support from the global north on climate finance has been inadequate considering their historical responsibility in the global temperature rise. We’re hoping to see some change in Baku.” The CSE report titled “Show Us the Money” claims that only one per cent of the global gross domestic produce — about $1 trillion — can meet the developing countries’ immediate climate requirements. Developing countries hope to use the finance from rich countries for multiple climate-related activities — from reducing their fossil-fuel emissions and switching to renewable energy sources, to adapting to rising global temperatures. “In an atmosphere where trust has eroded in the multilateral process, the NCGQ is among the last opportunities for the global north to course correct, show courage, pay its fair share,” said Avantika Goswami, a coauthor of the report. The report has, however, flagged concerns that developed countries are pushing for an expansion of the contributors’ base and for the inclusion of private finance. But developed nations have emphasised that international public finance must be the core component of NCGQ. At the 2015 UN climate conference in Paris, all countries had agreed on a legally binding agreement to cut Earth-warming greenhouse emissions so that average global warming remains within 2°C, preferably within 1.5°C from temperatures in the pre-industrial era. But a recent UN report, as reported by The Telegraph on October 28, shows that the world has so far faltered on its agreed goal, mainly because of the lack of action by developed countries and lack of funding support for developing and vulnerable countries, including India. Developing countries have consistently argued that the developed nations — the historical polluters — need to support climate-related actions in developing countries through finance and technology. Other climate experts echo the sentiments in the CSE report. “Climate science and history confirm that wealthy nations, having consumed the majority of fossil fuels since the industrial age, bear the primary responsibility for climate finance,” said Harjeet Singh, a climate activist and global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative aimed at curbing the use of fossil fuels. “Yet these countries are pushing for large developing countries to contribute as well, clearly aiming to dilute their own unmet obligations and shift burdens to those with less historical responsibility,” Singh said.

Firecrackers & Fury: Vehicles Outpace Farm Fires As Top Polluter In Delhi

Despite a decrease in agricultural burning, Delhi's air quality has worsened, transitioning from 'poor' to 'very poor' in recent weeks. A new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) attributes this decline primarily to local pollution sources, notably vehicular emissions, which are estimated to account for over half of the capital’s daily pollution levels. The CSE's pre-winter and pre-diwali report reveals that farm fires now contribute only about 4.44 per cent to the city’s PM2.5 levels. This marks a significant reduction compared to previous years when stubble burning was often blamed for the smog that blankets the city each winter. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at CSE, stated, “The air quality of Delhi has turned from poor to very poor even when the contribution of farm fires has remained less than 1 to 3 per cent for most of this period.”

पराली जलाने की घटनाओं में आई भारी कमी, द‍िल्ली में अब वायु प्रदूषण का खलनायक कौन?

द‍िल्ली-एनसीआर में इस वक्त वायु प्रदूषण, जल प्रदूषण और ध्वन‍ि प्रदूषण बढ़ाने का खलनायक कौन है? जिन सरकारों और लोगों ने किसानों पर पराली जलाने के आरोप में एफआईआर दर्ज की है क्या उन्होंने कभी उन लोगों पर भी केस दर्ज करने की ह‍िम्मत की है ज‍िन्होंने असल में द‍िल्ली को प्रदूषित क‍िया है? क्या दिल्ली-एनसीआर के लोग अपनी गलतियों और कमियों को छिपाने के लिए किसानों को गुनहगार बताकर बच सकते हैं. क्यों आख‍िर अब भी दिल्ली में प्रदूषण के लिए सिर्फ पराली को जिम्मेदार माना जा रहा है, जबक‍ि क‍िसानों ने पराली जलाना लगभग बंद कर द‍िया है. आख‍िर सरकार प्रदूषण के ल‍िए रोड साइड की धूल, ब‍िल्ड‍िंग कंस्ट्रक्शन, सरकारी न‍िर्माण, एसयूवी और कॅमर्शियल वाहनों को ज‍िम्मेदार क्यों नहीं मानती? प्रदूषण के लिए किसानों को कोसने वालों की आंख खोलने वाला एक आंकड़ा सामने आया है. इस साल 15 स‍ितंबर से 31 अक्टूबर तक देश के छह सूबों पंजाब, हर‍ियाणा, यूपी, द‍िल्ली, राजस्थान और मध्य प्रदेश में सिर्फ 7,532 जगहों पर पराली जलाई गई है. जबक‍ि 2020 में स‍िर्फ तीन राज्यों पंजाब, हर‍ियाणा और यूपी में एक से 31 अक्टूबर तक ही 34,824 जगहों पर पराली जला दी गई थी. यानी पांच साल में पराली जलाने की घटनाओं में करीब 78 फीसदी की कमी दर्ज की गई है. इसके बावजूद प्रदूषण बढ़ ही रहा है तो द‍िल्ली वालों को अपनी कम‍ियों की ओर देखना चाह‍िए. इसे भी पढ़ें: क्यों नाराज हैं आढ़तिया और राइस म‍िलर, आख‍िर धान के 'संग्राम' का कब होगा समाधान? क‍िसानों ने द‍िखाई समझदारी भारतीय कृष‍ि अनुसंधान पर‍िषद (ICAR) की एक स्टडी में कहा गया है क‍ि एक से 31 अक्टूबर 2016 तक अकेले पंजाब में पराली जलाने की 42,712 घटनाएं हुई थीं. जबक‍ि, इस साल यानी 2024 में 15 स‍ितंबर से 31 अक्टूबर के बीच स‍िर्फ 2,950 मामले सामने आए हैं. एक से 31 अक्टूबर 2016 के बीच हर‍ियाणा में पराली जलाने की 7,726 मामले हुए थे, जबक‍ि 15 स‍ितंबर से 31 अक्टूबर 2024 के बीच स‍िर्फ 784 केस सामने आए हैं. क‍िसान अपनी ज‍िम्मेदारी समझ रहे हैं, इसल‍िए अब घटनाएं कम हो गई हैं. उत्तर प्रदेश में एक से 31 अक्टूबर 2016 के बीच पराली जलाने के 3,904 मामले आए थे, जबक‍ि 15 स‍ितंबर से 31 अक्टूबर के बीच स‍िर्फ 1,118 मामले सामने आए हैं. जाह‍िर है क‍ि क‍िसान पराली जलाने के पंगे से अब बच रहे हैं. पराली जलाने की घटती घटनाएं साल मामले 2024 7532 2023 13645 2022 19920 2021 18449 2020 34824* #31 अक्टूबर तक Source: ICAR *2020 से पहले 01 अक्टूबर से ही मॉन‍िटर‍िंग होती थी, वो भी स‍िर्फ तीन राज्यों पंजाब, हर‍ियाणा, यूपी में. 2021 के बाद से पराली जलने की घटनाओं की मॉन‍िटर‍िंग 15 स‍ितंबर से होने लगी थी. साथ ही छह राज्यों को शाम‍िल क‍िया गया. इसमें पंजाब, हर‍ियाणा, यूपी, द‍िल्ली, राजस्थान और मध्य प्रदेश शाम‍िल हैं. क‍िसानों के बचाव में सीएसई सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने भी किसानों का बचाव करते हुए कहा है क‍ि प्रदूषण के लिए दिल्ली खुद जिम्मेदार है. खेतों में पराली जलाने की घटनाओं में भारी कमी दर्ज की गई है, बावजूद प्रदूषण बढ़ा है. दिल्ली की खराब हवा के लिए स्थानीय सोर्स और खास तौर पर ट्रांसपोर्ट की भूमिका ज्यादा है. सीएसई की स्टडी में कहा गया है कि रोजाना के प्रदूषण में 50 फीसदी से अधिक हिस्सेदारी ट्रांसपोर्ट, 13 फीसदी आवासीय, 11 फीसदी इंडस्ट्री और 7 फीसदी कंस्ट्रक्शन की है. इस साल अब तक खेतों में लगी आग का दिल्ली की वायु गुणवत्ता पर सबसे कम असर देखा गया है.

Vehicles, not farm fires, major contributors to Delhi’s poor air quality: Study

New Delhi: A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study shows that Delhi’s air quality remains between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor,’ with local pollution sources, especially transport, playing a major role despite fewer farm fires. CSE’s Anumita Roychowdhury said that while farm fires contributed just 1-3 per cent to Delhi’s pollution, local sources, particularly vehicles, have a major impact. CSE programme manager Shambhavi Shukla added that current PM2.5 levels are comparable or even worse than previous winters, driven by high traffic congestion and idling emissions. The study analysed air quality and traffic

Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Punjab records 484 stubble-burning cases on Diwali, nearly 3,000 farm fires in 2024 so far

As Delhi's air quality deteriorated further thanks to the relentless bursting of firecrackers despite a ban to celebrate Diwali, its neighbouring state, Punjab, on Thursday reported 484 stubble-burning cases. This is the highest number of cases in a single day in 2024. According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the total number of stubble-burning cases in the state this year has now reached 2,950. Out of all the districts in Punjab, Sangrur reported 89 cases of stubble burning, the highest number on Thursday. Following Sangrur, Ferozepur reported 65 cases, whereas Mansa reported 40 cases. This year, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of cases at 529, whereas Tarn Taran has recorded 444 cases. Sangrur has recorded 348 cases. The Sangrur administration is taking stringent action against officials who were not able to avoid such incidents, a Hindustan Times report said, citing Sandeep Rishi, deputy commissioner of Sangrur. The district has reported 147 incidents of stubble burning in the last three days. The administration has suspended eight officials and registered cases against three employees under section 14 of the Commission for Air Quality Monitoring (CAQM) Act. Additionally, a letter has been written to higher officials to their departments to suspend three other officials, the report added. The state has observed a rise in stubble-burning cases due to paddy harvesting and burning of crop residue. Other districts such as Patiala, Ferozepur and Mansa have been witnessing a rising number of farm fire incidents in the last few days. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality has dropped from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ mainly due to local pollution sources, according to a PTI report citing an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Diwali Delhi pollution: AQI drops to 'very poor' at 329, study reveals local sources responsible not stubble burning

Delhi woke up to ‘very poor’ air quality on Thursday, coinciding with the ongoing Diwali celebrations. The Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 7:45 am stood at 329, indicating a shift from 'very poor' to 'poor' air conditions. Although there has been a decrease in farm fires, local pollution sources remain significant contributors to the declining air quality, which has lingered between 'poor' and 'very poor' for several days, according to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Show Us the Money: Global South

The COP 29 (the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) is scheduled to begin on November 11 at Baku, in Azerbaijan. It will work towards reaching an agreement on what is called the ‘New Collective Quantified Goal’ (NCQG) on climate finance. The NCQG will replace commitments made by developed countries in 2009 to support climate action in developing countries, by providing US $100 billion per year by 2020 A new position paper by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has spelt out all the key debates around climate finance and offers some principles that can ensure an equitable and ambitious outcome at the Conference. Speaking at the briefing, CSE director general Sunita Narain said, “COP 29 has the potential to become the most important climate conference since Paris – given how crucial financial support is for developing countries to reach their climate goals. We have seen till now that the provision of climate finance by the Global North has been inadequate, and the Global South has been repeatedly let down by unmet pledges and commitments. We are hoping to see some change in this status quo at Baku.”

Is the polluter really paying in India’s plastic packaging management ecosystem?

India is taking steps to fight the plastic waste menace, but its efforts will not see fruition unless it gives more teeth to its policies and guidelines – a case in point is that of the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for plastic packaging. A new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights significant gaps in the implementation of the guidelines. These findings, say CSE researchers, combined with a set of targeted recommendations, underscore the need for robust interventions to ensure that India’s EPR framework effectively addresses plastic pollution and upholds the “polluter pays” principle. EPR in this context implies that producers and other stakeholders (such as importers etc) of plastic packaging material can be held accountable for their products through their entire lifecycle. This means that Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) must invest in collection, transportation, channelisation and recycling of packaging plastic waste. The EPR guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on February 16, 2022, require manufacturers, PIBOs as well as Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs) to register on a centralised portal. This framework sets specific targets for collection, recycling, end-of-life, recycled content usage and selective re-use in plastic packaging. CSE’s study, however, reveals major gaps in enforcement and systemic integrity that need urgent redressal. Speaking at the release of the CSE assessment here yesterday, Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, said: “We must manage our plastic in a manner so that it does not become a waste. The government’s EPR guidelines are an important tool, but the operational loopholes and other concerns that have emerged from the CSE assessment can lead to questions about its integrity – we must ensure that all this effort does not end up being a “waste” of time.” The EPR ecosphere and the portal The centralised EPR portal has received 41,577 registrations from PIBOs (till the time of the CSE assessment) — 83 per cent of the registered PIBOs are Importers, 11 per cent are Producers and 6 per cent are Brand Owners. Of these, Producers are responsible for introducing the majority of plastic packaging into the Indian market — cumulatively accounting for 65 per cent of the total. Brand Owners are the next biggest contributors with 26 per cent. Importers, despite being the highest in numbers to register, have only introduced 9 per cent of the plastic packaging introduced in the market. Says Atin Biswas, programme director, sustainable solid waste management and circular economy unit, CSE: “No Manufacturers of virgin plastics feature on the portal, despite the EPR guidelines mandating registration for Manufacturers. Another concern is that key contributors to plastic waste management such as urban local bodies (ULBs) and informal waste collectors lack representation in the EPR framework. This absence deprives them of incentives and support to manage plastic waste effectively, placing an undue burden on local governments.” While collection targets have been in force since the notification of the guidelines, the (mechanical) recycling targets have kicked in from the fiscal year 2024-25. In the financial year 2024-25, registered PIBOs have a mandate to mechanically recycle 35 per cent of the total plastic packaging introduced into the Indian market across all plastic categories. These PIBOs have introduced 23.9 million tonne (MT) of plastic packaging into the Indian market since the launch of the EPR portal in April 2022 – this translates into an annual average plastic packaging waste generation of about 8 MT. Says Biswas: “This indicates that the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB’s) estimation of annual average plastic waste generation (all kinds of plastic waste) of 4.1 MT is an underestimation.” The MLP menace There is another problem: almost 66 per cent of the plastic packaging introduced into the Indian market is flexible in nature – this kind of plastic is difficult to collect and recycle. A March 2024 amendment to the EPR guidelines under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 has reclassified multi-layered plastic (MLP) packaging — used to package chips, biscuits etc, and other small formats such as sachets – as flexible plastic packaging. Says Siddharth G Singh, programme manager, sustainable solid waste management and circular economy unit, CSE: “Cities across the Indian sub-continent have been struggling to deal with MLP packaging: a very small fraction of this waste goes for mechanical recycling and processing. The reclassification of MLP into flexible plastic category takes away the pressure from PIBOs to design their plastic packaging better, keeping the end-of-life of plastics in consideration. The burden of collecting and managing problematic formats of plastic packaging thus falls on local governments.”

Climate finance to take centre stage at upcoming climate COP

Deadlock over quantity and contributor base Statements on the climate finance goals, by countries and blocs, underline conflicting positions on finance among negotiators. On October 26, Ali Mohamed, the Special Climate Envoy for Kenya, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “The NCQG must ensure burden-sharing among developed countries, providing transparency, predictability, and accountability. The finance goal should also respond to and address the global economic challenges, high capital costs, the unsustainable debt burden, and the unfair global financial system.” His statement reflects the stance of developing countries that are expecting a deal that meets their needs and is transparent and predictable. Meanwhile, the Council of the European Union (EU) released a statement on October 14, that says, “The new goal should be designed on the basis of a broad, transformative and multi-layered approach, including various flows of finance and a broader group of contributors.” The EU statement indicates the expectation to expand the group of contributors to the climate finance goal. The divergence in these statements indicates that primarily, consensus needs to be built on the issues related to the quantity of finance, quality of finance, and contributor base. Several developing countries have estimated the amount of funds required to finance climate goals. For example, India and like-minded developing countries have asked for $1 trillion per year until 2030, while the Arab group has estimated climate finance requirement to be $1.1 trillion per year. The African group has estimated a $1.3 trillion per year requirement, and recently, Pakistan put out a standalone written submission in which it has estimated $2 trillion per year until 2030. Developed countries, in contrast, have not given any estimate regarding the quantum of finance required. They have, instead, been pushing to expand the pool of contributors or the countries that will provide the finance. Switzerland and Canada have even specified criteria for reassessing the donor countries. “These proposals (by Switzerland and Canada) do not account for cumulative emissions, erasing historical responsibility from the equation completely,” says a paper published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi based not-for-profit public interest research and advocacy organisation, on November 28. Switzerland proposed a criterion to expand the donor base, targeting countries among the top ten current emitters with a per capita gross national income (GNI), adjusted for purchasing power parity, exceeding $22,000. Using publicly available data, the CSE compiled a list of countries meeting this criterion. This list for potential donor countries included China, United States of America (USA), Russia, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. While India, Indonesia and Iran are also among the top ten current emitters, they are not considered in the list of contributors because of low GNI per capita. In multiple fora, developing countries have been arguing that it is against previous commitments. Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement clearly says that developed countries under the UNFCCC will provide financial resources to assist developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change. The UNFCCC’s Article 4.3 specifically talks about the obligations of providing financial assistance. Developing countries also argue that any negotiation regarding the contributors (Annex II) means reinterpretation of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. Given the timeline to decide on NCQG, opening the new discussion may derail the whole process, they argue. One of the authors of the CSE report, Sehr Raja, Programme Officer, Climate Change, CSE, says that developed countries are responsible for almost all the carbon dioxide emitted until the 1980s. While the less industrialised or developing country emissions are growing now, they have stated in climate negotiations that industrialised or developed countries cannot hold developing countries responsible after already getting the gains.

Delhi Weather: Diwali Eve Records Second Hottest Day This October; Air Quality 'Very Poor'

social Air pollution in Delhi Air quality diwaliAir pollution in Delhi (Representational Image) Photo: PTI Despite several anti-pollution measures, Delhi people woke up to a thick layer of smog on Thursday morning with the overall air quality index (AQI) remaining in the "very poor" category, as per the real-time data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Moreover, Diwali eve on Wednesday recorded the second-highest maximum temperature of the month at 36.1 degrees Celsius which was 5.1 degrees above normal, the weather department said. The highest temperature of the month was recorded on October 19 at 36.2 degrees Celsius. However, according to the weather experts, the temperatures are still within the normal range and are expected to drop after the second week of November. Local pollutants causing air pollution: Study A recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) suggested that despite a reduced number of farm fires, local pollutant sources continued to be the primary cause behind air pollution in Delhi accounting for 95 per cent of PM2.5 particles. According to the CSE analysis primarily vehicular emissions are responsible for this decline. However, residential burning, industrial emissions, and construction activities also play a crucial role in exacerbation of air quality. The pre-Diwali and pre-winter analysis of the study showed that farm fires contribute only about 4.44 per cent to Delhi's PM2.5 levels, while local pollution sources account for more than 95 per cent.

Delhi's air quality worsens on Diwali as AQI dips to 'Severe' category

Delhi Air Quality Index, Delhi Pollution: Delhi on Thursday witnessed a thick layer of smog with air quality reaching the 'Severe' category on Diwali 2024 day. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Anand Vihar was recorded at 419. In Aya Nagar, the AQI was 308, while Jahangir Puri saw an AQI of 395, and Dwarka reached 359, all in the 'Very Poor' category, at around 7 am. On Wednesday, the air quality in the national capital slipped into the "very poor" category even as authorities said strict action would be taken against those violating the firecracker ban. According to a report, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune said the air quality in the national capital is likely to be in the "very poor" category (AQI 300 to 400) on Thursday and Friday. On Diwali eve, the Delhi’s neighboring areas like Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Greater Noida, and Noida, the air quality remained "poor". In contrast, Faridabad's air quality was "moderate" with a reading of 181, according to the CPCB. The report further added that in 2023, Diwali was celebrated on November 12 and Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218. Delhi Air Pollution The CPCB's data also highlights significant pollution levels in the National Capital, creating health risks for residents in affected areas. On the other hand, the recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that pre-Diwali and pre-winter assessment shows that farm fires contribute only about 4.44 per cent to Delhi's PM2.5 levels, while local pollution sources account for more than 95 per cent. It further noted that the transport sector is responsible for more than half of the pollution, followed by residential burning (13 per cent), industrial emissions (11 per cent), and construction activities (7 per cent).

Delhi’s AQI ‘Very Poor’ On Diwali, Thick Layer Of Smog Blankets National Capital

Delhiites woke up to ‘very poor’ air quality on Diwali (Thurday). The Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 7:45 am stood at 329, indicating a shift from ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ air conditions. Although there has been a decrease in farm fires, local pollution sources remain significant contributors to the declining air quality, which has lingered between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ for several days, according to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”; 51 to 100 “satisfactory”; 101 to 200 “moderate”; 201 to 300 “poor”; 301 to 400 “very poor”; and 401 to 500 “severe”. In Aya Nagar, the AQI was 308, while Jahangirpuri and Dwarka recorded 395 and 359, respectively. Weather department officials have said that the city’s AQI levels are likely to improve after 11 am when the temperature will begin to rise and the windspeed is also expected to gain strength. Delhi has witnessed worsening air quality in the past few weeks. On Wednesday as well, the city’s AQI levels stood in the “very poor” category amid concerns that it was likely to further deteriorate in the wake of the bursting of crackers on Diwali.