दिल्ली की हवा हर साल दिवाली के बाद जहर हो जाती है. लेकिन इस बार सवाल सिर्फ प्रदूषण के स्तर पर नहीं, बल्कि प्रदूषण मापने वाली व्यवस्था की विश्वसनीयता... वहीं मोहन पी. जॉर्ज, पूर्व वरिष्ठ वैज्ञानिक, DPCC और सलाहकार, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने कहा कि AQI स्टेशन किसी भी तरह की बाधा से मुक्त होने
NEW DELHI: Widespread bursting of firecrackers beyond the time window permitted by Supreme Court on Diwali night drove Delhi’s air quality deeper into the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday. The surge of toxic smoke, laden with pollutants and heavy metals, caused the city’s average hourly PM2.5 levels to touch 675 micrograms/cubic metre at midnight, the highest since 2021 for Diwali night, when it had stood at 728. However, a rise in wind speed from 6am onwards and above-normal temperatures, along with negligible impact of stubble burning, prevented a further spike in pollution during the day. Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI on Diwali day stood at 345 in the ‘very poor’ category at 4pm — the highest Diwali day reading since 2021, when it had reached 382. On Tuesday, it had risen marginally to 351 — higher than last year’s post-Diwali reading of 339 (on Nov 1) but lower than the level recorded in 2023 (358). AQI past 350, noGRAP-III yet The worst post-Diwali air quality on record was in 2021, when the AQI spiked to 462 (‘severe’) on Nov 5. After a gap of five years, the Supreme Court had allowed the bursting of green crackers, which release 30% less particulate matter than conventional crackers, from 6am to 7am and 8pm to 10pm on Oct 19 and 20, respectively. However, crackers were burst till well past midnight, with people also opting for conventional crackers due to their easy availability. A sharp rise in PM2.5 levels across several stations in the city within a gap of a few hours shows that the crackers were used. Delhi Pollution Control Commission’s real-time air quality data showed that the hourly PM2.5 concentration at Nehru Nagar in Lajpat Nagar rose from 679 micrograms per cubic metre at 9pm to 1,763 micrograms per cubic metre at 10pm on Monday. Several stations recorded a similar spike within a matter of a few hours. The AQI remained in the higher end of the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category in some parts of the city. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said Delhi-NCR experienced the season’s first smog episode on Monday night due to the concentrated bursting of crackers. “Pollution levels have hit very poor to severe levels at this onset of the winter when it’s still much warmer. The particulate levels have increased steadily since early Oct. But on Oct 20, the levels increased by nearly eight times between afternoon and night, causing very high exposures. This has happened even when the contribution of farm fires was less than 1-2%,” said Roychowdhury. She added that the coming months will require much stronger systemic action to control emissions from sources and not just temporary emergency measures that have short-lived impacts. As winds remained calm during the night, it caused an accumulation of pollutants. However, winds picked up from 6am onwards, leading to dispersion. “The hourly particulate matter spiked from 9pm on Monday and saw an increasing trend until 5am on Tuesday and then a sharp decline as the sun came out,” said Gufran Beig, founder of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) and chair professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
The national capital may be synonymous with pollution, but the chokehold of pollution this Diwali covered an area far beyond Delhi. From Haryana to eastern Uttar Pradesh, air quality plunged across the Indo-Gangetic Plains, revealing the depth of the country’s post-Diwali pollution crisis that extends well past Delhi. During the peak of Diwali celebrations, Jind in Haryana recorded the worst air quality index (AQI) in the country on Tuesday, touching 421 in the “severe” zone. Joining it in the “severe” zone was Dharuhera with an AQI of 412. Three other towns from Haryana – Narnaul (AQI of 390), Rohtak (376) and Gurugram (370), all in the “very poor” zone – made the notorious distinction of making the list of top five most polluted towns in the country, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Manesar, Hapur, were among the cities that had “very poor” air along with towns such as Bahadurgarh, Bhiwadi, Charkhi Dadri, Sirsa and Nandesari, CPCB data showed. Cities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including Kanpur, Lucknow and Patna, recorded “poor” air, with most regions already suffering from high PM2.5 levels even before the festival began. Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed Dharuhera had the highest PM2.5 concentration at 235 µg/m³ before Diwali, followed by Delhi at 223 µg/m³, indicating widespread local pollution well before winter inversion set in. “We are still in the warmer part of the year. Diwali was celebrated in the early part of winter this year but we are noticing a steep climb in pollution levels,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment. “Between October 11 and now there has been 1.6 times increase in pollution in Delhi. From yesterday afternoon to night, PM2.5 levels have seen an 8 times increase. This is mainly a result of concentrated burning. The contribution from farm fires is still 1-2% which clearly shows local pollution sources are causing the spike, especially fire crackers”. Roychowdhury warned that once winter inversion deepens, the entire NCR and Indo-Gangetic region will be trapped under a toxic haze. “Year after year we remain on an emergency mode to deal with winter pollution in the region. We focus on short term measures such as sweeping of roads, sprinkling of water to keep dust down but the systemic solutions to counter key sources are missing.” “In fact, Jind or Dharuhera may not be big contributors to this pollution. But, they can get wrapped in smog because the whole airshed is getting polluted. We need region wide action.” She said all measures of energy transition in vehicles, industry, and households, integrated public transportation systems, and circularity countering waste burning and dumping have to be implemented in the entire region, adding that Haryana is poorly represented in the National Clean Air Programme despite having several polluted areas. HT reported on July 19 last year that road dust mitigation has been the primary focus of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) – launched in 2019 to cut particulate pollution by 40% by 2025-26. Around 64% of NCAP’s ₹10,566 crore budget has gone into road dust control – road paving, mechanical sweepers, and pothole repairs – while only 14.5% was spent on biomass burning, 12.6% on vehicular emissions, and less than 1% on industrial pollution, according to a CSE analysis
दिल्ली में दिवाली के बाद पटाखों के कारण वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर खतरनाक स्तर पर बना हुआ है। कई इलाकों में एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स 350 के पार दर्ज किया गया, जिससे लोगों को सांस लेने में भी परेशानी हो रही है। एनसीआर के अन्य शहरों में भी हवा की गुणवत्ता बेहद खराब श्रेणी में दर्ज की गई है। नई दिल्ली : दिवाली के बाद दिल्ली में पटाखों का असर अभी भी हवा में बरकरार है। बुधवार सुबह भी आसमान में धुंध छाई रही, जिससे दृश्यता कम हो गई। राजधानी के कई इलाकों में एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स ( AQI ) 350 के पार दर्ज किया गया। दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड के सुबह 5 बजे के आंकड़ों के अनुसार, सबसे अधिक प्रदूषण वजीरपुर इलाके में और सबसे कम आईजीआई एयरपोर्ट एरिया में दर्ज किया गया। एनसीआर के अन्य शहरों में भी हवा की गुणवत्ता गंभीर बनी हुई है।\नोएडा में सुबह 5 बजे एक्यूआई 295 दर्ज किया गया, जबकि फरीदाबाद में एक्यूआई 258 रहा। गुरुग्राम में वायु गुणवत्ता बेहद खराब श्रेणी में दर्ज हुई, जहां बुधवार सुबह एक्यूआई 394 मापा गया। वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग (सीएक्यूएम) ने मंगलवार को उत्तरी भारत में हवा की गुणवत्ता में तेजी से गिरावट पर चिंता व्यक्त की थी। आंकड़ों से पता चलता है कि पीएम2.5 प्रमुख प्रदूषक बना हुआ है, जिससे वायु गुणवत्ता खतरनाक स्तर तक पहुंच गई है। शून्य से 50 के बीच एक्यूआई 'अच्छा', 51 से 100 के बीच 'संतोषजनक', 101 से 200 के बीच 'मध्यम', 201 से 300 के बीच 'खराब', 301 से 400 के बीच 'बेहद खराब' और 401 से 500 के बीच 'गंभीर' माना जाता है। कुल 38 निगरानी केंद्रों में से 35 'रेड जोन' में थे, जो 'बेहद खराब' से 'गंभीर' वायु गुणवत्ता को दर्शाते हैं। सुबह 5 बजे विभिन्न स्थानों पर AQI इस प्रकार था: वजीरपुर- 405, रोहिणी-383, आरके पुरम-377, आनंद विहार-364, अशोक विहार-387, आईटीओ-360, जेएलएन स्टेडियम-347, इंडिया गेट-332, पूसा-351, आईजीआई एयरपोर्ट-270।\सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक, अनुसंधान और वकालत, अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर में पटाखों के कारण इस मौसम का पहला स्मॉग एपिसोड देखा गया। उन्होंने बताया कि सर्दियों की शुरुआत में, जब मौसम अभी भी काफी गर्म है, प्रदूषण का स्तर बहुत खराब से गंभीर स्तर तक पहुंच गया। अक्टूबर की शुरुआत से कणों का स्तर लगातार बढ़ रहा है। 20 अक्टूबर को, दोपहर और रात के बीच स्तर लगभग आठ गुना बढ़ गया, जिससे बहुत अधिक जोखिम हुआ, जबकि खेत की आग का योगदान 1-2% से भी कम था। उन्होंने कहा कि आने वाले महीनों में उत्सर्जन को नियंत्रित करने के लिए मजबूत प्रणालीगत कार्रवाई की आवश्यकता होगी, न कि केवल अस्थायी आपातकालीन उपायों की, जिनका अल्पकालिक प्रभाव पड़ता है। दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण के स्तर को कम करने के लिए तत्काल और दीर्घकालिक उपायों की आवश्यकता है, जिसमें उत्सर्जन स्रोतों पर नियंत्रण, सार्वजनिक परिवहन को बढ़ावा देना और जागरूकता फैलाना शामिल है। पटाखों पर प्रतिबंध और प्रदूषण नियंत्रण नियमों का सख्ती से पालन सुनिश्चित करना भी आवश्यक है
दिल्ली में दिवाली की रात पटाखे चलाने का असर अभी भी बरकरार है। पटाखों की वजह से बुधवार सुबह भी आसमान में धुंध छाई है। सुबह-सुबह धुंध की वजह से दृश्यता कम है। वहीं, एयर क्ववालिटी अभी भी 'रेड जोन' में बरकरार है। राजधानी के कई इलाकों में आज भी एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स 350 के पार बना हुआ है। दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड के सुबह 5 बडे के डेटा के अनुसार सबसे अधिक प्रदूषण वजीरपुर इलाके में और सबसे कम आईजीआई एयरपोर्ट एरिया में दर्ज किया गया। एनसीआर में गुरुग्राम सबसे अधिक प्रदूषित नोएडा में सुबह 5 बजे एक्यूआई 295 दर्ज किया गया। वहीं, फरीदाबाद में एक्यूआई 258 रहा। गुरुग्राम में भी हवा का स्तर बेहद खराब कैटेगरी में दर्ज हुआ। गुरुग्राम में बुधवार की सुबह एक्यूआई 394 दर्ज हुआ। इससे पहले वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग (सीएक्यूएम) ने मंगलवार को उत्तरी भारत भर में हवा की गुणवत्ता में तेजी से बिगड़ने की चिंताजनक खबर दी थी। आंकड़े दर्शाते हैं कि इन सभी क्षेत्रों में कणीय पदार्थ पीएम2.5 प्रमुख प्रदूषक बना हुआ है, जिससे वायु की गुणवत्ता खतरनाक स्तर तक पहुंच गई है। शून्य से 50 के बीच एक्यूआई 'अच्छा', 51 से 100 के बीच 'संतोषजनक', 101 से 200 के बीच 'मध्यम', 201 से 300 के बीच 'खराब', 301 से 400 के बीच 'बेहद खराब' और 401 से 500 के बीच 'गंभीर' माना जाता है। कुल 38 निगरानी केंद्रों में से 35 'रेड जोन' में थे, जो 'बेहद खराब' से 'गंभीर' वायु गुणवत्ता को दर्शाता है। सुबह 5 बजे कहां-कितना AQI वजीरपुर- 405 रोहिणी-383 आरके पुरम-377 आनंद विहार-364 अशोक विहार-387 आईटीओ-360 जेएलएन स्टेडियम-347 इंडिया गेट-332 पूसा-351 आईजीआई एयरपोर्ट-270 आगे कैसा रहेगा हाल? सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक, अनुसंधान और वकालत, अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर में पटाखे फोड़ने के कारण इस मौसम का पहला स्मॉग एपिसोड देखा गया। "सर्दियों की शुरुआत में, जब मौसम अभी भी काफी गर्म है, प्रदूषण का स्तर बहुत खराब से गंभीर स्तर तक पहुंच गया है। अक्टूबर की शुरुआत से कणों का स्तर लगातार बढ़ रहा है।
दिवाली की रात छोड़े गए पटाखों का असर अभी तक दिल्ली की हवा से खत्म नहीं हुआ है। राजधानी में बुधवार सुबह भी घना धुआं और धुंध छाया रहा, जिससे दृश्यता काफी कम हो गई। एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) अभी भी खतरनाक स्तर यानी ‘रेड जोन’ में बना हुआ है। दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड के मुताबिक, राजधानी के ज्यादातर इलाकों में वायु गुणवत्ता बेहद खराब श्रेणी में दर्ज की गई है। सुबह 5 बजे तक मिले आंकड़ों के अनुसार, वजीरपुर में प्रदूषण का स्तर सबसे ज्यादा जबकि आईजीआई एयरपोर्ट इलाके में सबसे कम दर्ज हुआ। वजीरपुर का AQI 405 रहा, जो गंभीर स्तर पर है। NCR में भी बिगड़ी हवा दिल्ली से सटे इलाकों में भी स्थिति चिंताजनक है। नोएडा में AQI 295, फरीदाबाद में 258 और गुरुग्राम में 394 दर्ज किया गया। वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग (CAQM) ने मंगलवार को चेतावनी दी थी कि उत्तरी भारत में हवा की गुणवत्ता तेजी से बिगड़ रही है। प्रमुख प्रदूषक PM2.5 कणीय पदार्थ बना हुआ है, जिसने पूरे क्षेत्र की हवा को विषैला बना दिया है। दिल्ली के प्रमुख इलाकों में सुबह 5 बजे का AQI वजीरपुर- 405 रोहिणी- 383 आरके पुरम- 377 आनंद विहार- 364 अशोक विहार- 387 आईटीओ- 360 जेएलएन स्टेडियम- 347 इंडिया गेट- 332 पूसा-351 आईजीआई एयरपोर्ट- 270 यह मौसम का पहला स्मॉग एपिसोड सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) के अनुसार, “दिल्ली-एनसीआर में पटाखों की वजह से इस मौसम का पहला स्मॉग एपिसोड देखने को मिला। दिवाली के बाद 20 अक्टूबर की रात प्रदूषण का स्तर आठ गुना बढ़ गया। खेतों की आग का योगदान बहुत कम (1-2%) था, लेकिन हवा की धीमी गति ने प्रदूषकों को फैलने नहीं दिया। उन्होंने कहा कि आने वाले महीनों में केवल अस्थायी कदम नहीं, बल्कि दीर्घकालिक नीतिगत कार्रवाई की जरूरत होगी ताकि प्रदूषण के स्रोतों पर नियंत्रण पाया जा सके। हवा में ज़हर: PM2.5 स्तर 675 तक पहुंचा पीटीआई की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दिवाली की रात PM2.5 का स्तर 675 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर दर्ज किया गया, जो पिछले चार वर्षों में सबसे अधिक है। 2024 में यह 609, 2023 में 570 और 2022 में 534 था। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि बंगाल की खाड़ी में बने डिप्रेशन के कारण हवा की गति कम हो गई, जिससे प्रदूषक लंबे समय तक हवा में तैरते रहे। ध्वनि प्रदूषण भी चरम पर दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण समिति (DPCC) के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, 26 में से 23 नॉइज मॉनिटरिंग स्टेशन पर आवाज की तीव्रता सीमा से ऊपर दर्ज हुई। करोल बाग में रात 11 बजे 93.5 डेसिबल(A) शोर दर्ज हुआ, जबकि अनुमति केवल 55 डेसिबल(A) की है। यहां तक कि साइलेंस जोन जैसे श्री औरोबिंदो मार्ग पर भी 65 डेसिबल(A) तक शोर दर्ज हुआ। GRAP-II लागू, सुधार की उम्मीद CAQM ने GRAP-II चरण को सक्रिय कर दिया है। आंकड़ों के अनुसार, प्रदूषण में परिवहन का योगदान 14.6%, नोएडा का 8.3%, गाजियाबाद का 6%, गुरुग्राम का 3.6% और पराली जलाने का लगभग 1% है। पूर्व सीपीसीबी अधिकारी दीपांकर साहा का मानना है कि हवा की रफ्तार बढ़ने पर अगले कुछ दिनों में राहत मिल सकती है। सियासत भी गरमाई वायु प्रदूषण को लेकर दिल्ली की सियासत भी तेज हो गई है। पर्यावरण मंत्री मंजींदर सिंह सिरसा ने AAP सरकार पर आरोप लगाया कि वह पंजाब के किसानों को पराली जलाने के लिए उकसा रही है। जवाब में AAP नेता सौरभ भारद्वाज ने सिरसा को अनपढ़ कहते हुए पलटवार किया और कहा कि “पंजाब का AQI सिर्फ 156 है, जिससे साफ है कि दिल्ली की हवा खराब होने की वजह कुछ और है। दिवाली के बाद दिल्ली एक बार फिर गैस चैंबर में बदल गई है। प्रदूषण के आंकड़े चेतावनी दे रहे हैं कि अगर अब भी ठोस कदम नहीं उठाए गए, तो सर्दियों के दौरान हालात और भयावह हो सकते हैं।
Delhi's sky turned grey and hazy a day after Diwali fireworks lit up the city. The air, toxic, making the national capital the "most polluted major global city". The pollution levels or the Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to severe levels, resulting in difficulty in breathing, itchy eyes and causing discomfort to even healthy people. IQAir, a Swiss air-quality monitoring company, clocked the city's AQI at a staggering 1,121 on Tuesday. However, India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported a much lower AQI of 351, falling under the "very poor" category. The catch is - both the readings are correct but for different reasons. What Is AQI? The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a public health tool designed to communicate air pollution levels or the quality of air in simple terms. Eight pollutants namely particulate matter (PM) 10, PM2.5, Ozone (O3), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb) and ammonia (NH3) act as major parameters in deriving the AQI of an area, as per the CPCB. "AQI is a calculated index based on different parameters. It is for common man's understanding of the quality of air," explained Mohan George, Consultant at the Centre for Science and Environment. "AQI has different color-coded ranges simply to tell the citizens that air is good or satisfactory or very poor and what they should be doing," George, also former Additional Director at Delhi Pollution Control Committee, added. For example, AQI between 401 and 500 or in the severe category is hazardous for even healthy people, and one should avoid going out or exercising in the open.
Delhi woke up to a toxic haze after Diwali, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) rising to 347 at 7 am on October 21, up from 238 the day before.
Punjab takes the heat for Delhi’s foul air. But the headlines often miss Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which contribute significantly to the toxic mix. A total of 19 cities in the National Capital Region appear to have contributed to more than one-third of the PM 2.5 load in Delhi, suggests Newslaundry’s analysis of two weeks’ data compiled by an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Of these, 11 cities are in Haryana, six in Uttar Pradesh and two in Rajasthan. Newslaundry’s analysis from October 5 to 19 is based on regional and sectoral contributors forecast by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune under MoES. This data was analysed before the peak observed on Diwali. Data suggests that the contribution of local factors such as transport, industry, energy, waste burning etc was 35.4 percent between October 5 and 19. Among these, the share of the transport sector was the highest at 18.32 percent. The third highest contributor was a curious sector called “others” at 27.65 percent. It’s not clear what emission sources are included in the “others” category. Since 2021, IITM-Pune has been predicting PM2.5 load of Delhi with the help of the Decision Support System. It also releases air quality index forecast through the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), which enables the Commission for Air Quality Management to take pre-emptive measures. Based on mathematical modeling, DSS estimates the contribution of emissions from local sectors in Delhi, 19 districts in three neighbouring states, and biomass burning. The 19 cities contributing to Delhi’s air pollution are part of the National Capital Region, a vast metropolitan area comprising Delhi and several adjoining districts across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Given the transboundary nature of air pollution, these cities are integral to regional anti-pollution initiatives and plans such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and other Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)-led measures. Regional contributors In the period analysed, 19 cities contributed 34.52 percent to Delhi’s PM 2.5 load, including 11 in Haryana. Among the three neighbouring states, Haryana’s average predicted PM 2.5 load to Delhi was the highest at 24.7 percent. The Haryana cities analysed by DSS are Karnal, Faridabad, Mahendargarh, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Gurgaon, Rewari, Bhiwani and Jind. Among them, Sonipat’s average share was the highest at 5.71 percent, followed by Jhajjar at 5.62 percent. For two days (October 5 and 13), Jhajjar was responsible for almost one-tenth of Delhi’s PM 2.5 load. Sonipat saw its highest contribution on October 11 and 12 when its share was 11 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively. Experts attributed Haryana’s contribution to winds carrying pollutants flowing from its cities towards Delhi. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director at Centre for Science and Environment, said: “The transboundary flow of pollution is determined by the direction of the wind. Delhi is on the downwind side of Haryana.” Referring to a source-apportionment study, she said Delhi’s contribution to Noida’s pollution can go up to 40 percent because the wind flow is from Delhi to Noida. On Jhajjar and Sonipat being the key contributors, she said they have industrial areas and thermal power plants. Uttar Pradesh’s average contribution in the two-week period was 8.4 percent with Gautam Buddh Nagar’s share at 3.05 percent and Ghaziabad at 2.53 percent. The other four districts part of DSS predictions are Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Muzaffarnagar. The share of Rajasthan, which has Alwar and Bharatpur among the 19 cities, was the lowest at 1.39 percent.
New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality plunged sharply a day after Diwali, leaving the city shrouded in haze and making it one of the world’s most polluted major cities. Residents reported difficulty in breathing, itchy eyes, and general discomfort. While Swiss-based air-quality platform IQAir recorded the city’s AQI at a staggering 1,121, India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported a much lower figure of 351. Both readings, however, are correct within their respective frameworks. Understanding AQI The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool designed to communicate air pollution levels in simple terms, helping the public understand associated health risks. CPCB calculates AQI based on eight pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), and ammonia (NH3). Mohan George, consultant at the Centre for Science and Environment, explains, “AQI uses color-coded ranges to indicate whether the air is good, satisfactory, or very poor, guiding citizens on necessary precautions.” For instance, an AQI above 400 falls in the “severe” category, hazardous even for healthy individuals. CPCB vs IQAir The key difference lies in methodology and scale. CPCB’s AQI scale is capped at 500, with six categories ranging from ‘good’ (0-50) to ‘severe’ (401-500). IQAir, however, has a tighter scale, labeling anything above 301 as “hazardous.” Both platforms identify the dominant pollutant usually PM2.5 in Northern India during winter but their calculation methods differ, leading to varying AQI values. Data Sources and Calculation CPCB relies on government-operated, reference-grade monitoring stations, including DPCC, IMD, and IIT Madras. IQAir incorporates data from these stations as well as additional sensor-based monitors from embassies, companies, and individuals. For example, if PM2.5 concentration reaches 1,100 micrograms per cubic meter, IQAir could report an AQI of 2,043, while CPCB’s calculation would show 1,054. Which Reading to Trust? Experts recommend focusing on the AQI category—“very poor,” “severe,” or “hazardous”—and pollutant concentrations rather than the numeric value alone. For instance, on Tuesday morning, IQAir recorded PM2.5 at 320 µg/m³ near Mandir Marg (AQI 489), while CPCB measured 335 µg/m³. Both indicate dangerously polluted air, underlining the need for precautionary measures such as limiting outdoor exposure and using masks or air purifiers. In essence, whether 350 or 1,100, the takeaway remains the same: Delhi’s air quality is hazardous, and public health measures are essential.
As Delhi’s skyline lit up unabated on Diwali night, the levels of pollutants skyrocketed far beyond permissible limits across the city. But at the very moment when tracking dangerous pollution peaks was most critical, the majority of Delhi’s 39 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) went offline for hours, creating significant data gaps. An analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data by HT revealed that only nine stations – barely 23% of the city’s monitoring network – recorded continuous data. The remaining stations experienced blackouts ranging from one to nine hours during the crucial 36-hour period between midnight on Monday and 11am Tuesday. Dwarka Sector 8 recorded the poorest performance, with data available for only 27 of the 36 critical hours. Monitoring stations at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, and RK Puram each lost approximately eight hours of readings. Four other stations missed only one hour, but 10 crucial monitoring points went dark for six hours or more during the period when firecracker emissions typically peak and accumulate. Data gaps and pollution spikes Experts stressed that the missing data is not a new phenomenon. Every year, several stations stop reporting when pollution levels spike during Diwali, suggesting the system’s inability to handle pollution loads beyond a certain threshold. “The observed pattern shows that most stations stopped providing data when they approached 1,000 µg/m³, while there were stations such as Anand Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Mundka, that recorded values above 1,000 µg/m³, indicating that the technology of monitoring isn’t an issue, at least in terms of being available. We have observed this over the past years too,” said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst of think tank EnviroCatalysts. Dahiya said the problem cuts across agencies. He referred to previous years, which had similar data gaps observed not only for stations under the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), but also those under the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). “This isn’t data being withheld. It is a technological limitation in the sense some stations are not able to record complete and accurate data beyond a certain limit,” Dahiya said, calling for stations to be suitably upgraded. Where data was available, the picture was alarming. DPCC’s Mandir Marg station recorded PM2.5 concentrations of 1,066 µg/m³ at midnight before going offline from 1am to 4am. At Nehru Nagar – Delhi’s most polluted station on Diwali night – PM2.5 touched 1,763 µg/m³ at 10pm, with no data for the next hour and a four-hour blackout between 1am and 5am. CPCB’s ITO station registered PM2.5 levels of 923 µg/m³ at 1am and went dark. It worked again at 7am when it logged 967 µg/m³. At Dwarka’s NSIT station, data vanished from midnight to 5am, while readings at IMD’s Ayanagar were unavailable for up to five hours. An expert, well acquainted with the CAAQMS across NCR, said for hourly readings – stations spend close to 40 minutes to collect particulate matter, with the remaining time spent to calibrate and analyse it. “Stations are designed to record extremely high values – even up to 10,000µg/m³. With the rise in concentration, accuracy may reduce but it does not mean values are not released. It simply means the accuracy is reduced marginally – by 1% or 2%. In this case, it is plausible a certain threshold has been set beyond which values will not be captured,” The cost of missing data These gaps, experts warned, undermine public health response and scientific understanding of pollution’s real impact. “Such missing data hampers insights, makes it impossible to assess exposure accurately, and gives a false sense that air quality is slightly better than it actually is,” said Dahiya. Activist Bhavreen Kandhari called it a “worrying breach of transparency.” “Reliable, continuous monitoring is the foundation of any clean-air strategy. Transparency in air quality data should be treated as a public health imperative, not a discretionary choice,” she said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said such lapses were particularly concerning during “extreme pollution episodes” like Diwali. “High pollution peaks are expected during such extreme pollution episodes. It is thus highly important to keep the data open and transparent even if extreme peaks are recorded, to understand the magnitude of the impacts and to inform policy and people for adequate and effective health safeguards,” she said.
Stubble burning has reduced, but it’s no longer the main culprit. What we’re seeing is a city choking itself with its own emissions,” said environmentalist Sunita Narain. “The solution lies in year-round enforcement, not just post-festival firefighting.” A thick layer of toxic haze enveloped Delhi for the second straight day after Diwali celebrations, as widespread violations of the Supreme Court’s two-hour green cracker window pushed the city’s air quality into the ‘very poor’ zone. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 345 at 7 a.m., with pollution levels in several parts of the capital hovering on the brink of the ‘severe’ category. Of the 38 CPCB monitoring stations, 34 recorded AQI readings between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’, while Punjabi Bagh (433) and Wazirpur (401) were identified as pollution hotspots. Experts say calm winds, low temperatures, and stagnant weather conditions have worsened the haze, trapping pollutants close to the surface and delaying dispersion. Although farm fires across Punjab and Haryana reportedly fell by nearly 77% compared to previous years, the spike in pollution this year has been largely attributed to firecracker emissions and local sources such as vehicular exhaust, construction dust, and diesel generators. The post-Diwali PM2.5 average shot up to around 488 micrograms per cubic metre, more than double the pre-festival levels, according to a Climate Trends analysis. Health concerns mount amid deteriorating air Doctors have raised alarms over the health impact of prolonged exposure to toxic air, warning that it not only irritates the lungs but also weakens the body’s natural immune defenses.“High levels of air pollution alter the immune response in the respiratory tract by reducing the activity of macrophages and natural killer cells the body’s frontline soldiers against infections,” explained Dr. Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS Director. “This makes individuals more susceptible to viral illnesses such as influenza and COVID-19.” Studies have shown that pollutants like PM2.5 can damage the cilia in the respiratory tract, disrupt airway barriers, and trigger chronic inflammation creating a favourable environment for viruses to thrive. The combination of cooler post-monsoon temperatures and reduced humidity further aids viral survival and transmission. Health experts have advised citizens, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments, to avoid early-morning walks, wear N95 masks outdoors, and use air purifiers indoors. Authorities activate GRAP Stage II Measures With pollution levels escalating, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes restrictions on construction activities, a ban on diesel generator use (except for essential services), and advisories to curb vehicular pollution. Meanwhile, political sparring has erupted between the AAP and BJP over the failure to prevent firecracker violations despite repeated court orders and awareness drives. The Delhi government has urged residents to refrain from further bursting crackers and has warned of fines for those caught flouting restrictions. Recurring crisis The post-Diwali haze has become an annual health emergency for the National Capital Region. Experts emphasise that unless local emissions are curtailed and strict enforcement of firecracker and dust-control regulations is maintained, Delhi will continue to suffocate each winter. “Stubble burning has reduced, but it’s no longer the main culprit. What we’re seeing is a city choking itself with its own emissions,” said environmentalist Sunita Narain. “The solution lies in year-round enforcement, not just post-festival firefighting.”
लगता है कि दिल्ली की जहरीली हवा के लिए पराली को कोसना अब न्यू नॉर्मल हो गया है। ये हर साल की रीत सी बन गई है। इस बार दिल्ली में दीवाली के बाद प्रदूषण का रिकॉर्ड टूट गया। दुनिया के सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में इसका नंंबर आ गया तो इसका ठीकरा फोड़ने के लिए सिर ढूंढे जाने लगे। फिर हुआ ये कि दीवाली के अगले दिन दिल्ली सरकार के पर्यावरण मंत्री मनजिंदर सिंह सिरसा ने बाकायदा प्रेस क़ॉन्फ्रेंस करके आरोप लगा दिया कि आम आदमी पार्टी ज़बरदस्ती किसानों के मुँह बांधकर तरन तारन और बठिंडा में पराली जलवा रही है ताकि दिल्ली के अंदर इसका असर हो। वैसे राजनीतिक आरोप-प्रत्यारोपों से इतर अगर डेटा पर नजर दौड़ाएं तो सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के आंकड़े बता रहे हैं कि सर्दियों के सीजन में दिल्ली में जो पॉल्यूशन बढ़ जाता है, उसमें पंजाब, हरियाणा और पश्चिमी यूपी के खेतों में जलने वाली पराली का योगदान महज 8.1 परसेंट है। सबसे ज्यादा 51.5% योगदान तो गाड़ियों से निकलने वाले धुएं का है। उसके बाद पड़ोसी जिलों से उत्सर्जन का 34.9% और धूल का 3.7% परसेंट योगदान है। जाहिर है, दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में पराली का योगदान इतना नहीं है, जितना उसका हौव्वा खड़ा किया जा रहा है और वो भी सिर्फ पंजाब की पराली का जबकि वहां तो इस बार खरीफ की फसल ही चौपट हो गई। असली चैलेंज तो आगे है जब रबी की फसल तैयार होगी। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि जब तक सरकारें मिलकर प्रदूषण के असली कारणों पर काम नहीं करतीं, तब तक हवा की समस्या का स्थायी समाधान नहीं होगा।
According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, high-congestion traffic can increase emissions between three and seven times, including emissions of certain pollutants, such as carbon, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. n January 2024, Delhi’s average air quality index was “abnormally high”. Low wind speeds slowed the dispersal of pollutants, leaving the city with its worst January air in five years. In its office in central Delhi, members of the Commission for Air Quality Management convened for their first meeting of the year. The central government formed the body in 2021, under the aegis of the ministry of environment, to ensure better coordination of air quality management between Delhi and the National Capital Region, as well as adjoining states in matters of air pollution that affected the capital. To this end, it was vested with the power to issue directions to authorities in this region.
Environmental experts warn that even so-called “green crackers” contribute significantly to short-term particulate spikes. “The concept of green fireworks is relative they emit fewer pollutants than traditional ones but are far from clean,” said a researcher from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The national capital is once again cloaked in a toxic haze, with air quality plummeting to “severe” levels as pollution levels crossed the 370 mark on the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday evening. According to real-time data from aqi.in, PM2.5 concentrations hovered around 255 µg/m³, while PM10 touched 330 µg/m³, making the air “extremely hazardous” for all age groups. In pockets such as Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and Rohini, AQI readings soared beyond 600, reflecting sporadic but alarming spikes in toxicity. Even a few minutes outdoors, experts warn, could trigger respiratory distress, eye irritation, and fatigue among vulnerable populations.
Environmental groups, including Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), urged stricter enforcement of cracker bans and long-term investment in public transport and green zones. While the Environment Ministry has insisted that GRAP measures would help “stabilise” conditions, experts remain sceptical given the recurring post-festival spikes. As residents across Delhi celebrated Diwali with fireworks late into Monday night, the capital’s air quality nosedived to the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories by Tuesday morning. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 347 at 7 a.m., with 36 of 38 monitoring stations falling in the red zone. Major hotspots such as Wazirpur (423), Dwarka (417), Anand Vihar (404), and Jahangirpuri (407) registered ‘severe’ pollution levels, while even residential zones like Lodhi Road and ITO hovered around 340–350. Despite Supreme Court restrictions allowing only green firecrackers for limited hours, emissions rose sharply, prompting the continuation of Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. Capital Engulfed in Toxic Smog Thick grey smog blanketed Delhi’s skyline on Tuesday morning – a haunting ritual that follows every Diwali celebration. Visibility dropped below 100 metres in some neighbourhoods, and the air carried an acrid smell of burnt powder. By 8 a.m., Delhi’s average AQI stood at 350 , marking one of the worst post-Diwali mornings in three years. CPCB’s SAMEER app indicated that several areas breached the AQI 400 mark, reflecting hazardous pollution levels. Fire stations received over 260 calls overnight, mostly for minor blazes triggered by fireworks, but no serious injuries were reported. DPCC officials confirmed that unregulated firecracker bursting continued beyond the permissible 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. window. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reiterated her appeal for public cooperation, stating, “This is not just a policy matter anymore – it’s a public health emergency in slow motion.” Health experts warned that prolonged exposure could aggravate respiratory diseases, especially among children and the elderly. Rising Pollution Despite Crackdown Efforts In the days leading up to the festival, authorities had enforced preventive action under GRAP Stage II, banning most construction and dust-inducing activities. The Supreme Court, while allowing green crackers between October 18 and 20, aimed to strike a balanced approach between tradition and sustainability. However, enforcement faltered as non-compliance remained widespread. According to data from SAFAR and CPCB, particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration stood at more than 15–18 times the safe limit of 60 µg/m³ across north and central Delhi on Tuesday morning. Officials attributed the spike to meteorological factors, including stagnant wind speeds below 5 kmph and reduced atmospheric dispersion. Experts also flagged the onset of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana as contributing to the pollution surge. The CAQM has warned that without rain or stable winds, Delhi’s air could remain in the ‘severe’ category throughout the week. Last year, the city had reported an average post-Diwali AQI of 359, nearly similar to this year’s levels, indicating minimal progress despite intensified awareness campaigns. Human Cost and Call for Responsibility Residents took to social media with visuals of dense smog around India Gate and Connaught Place, expressing frustration at the recurring pattern. “We are gasping, not living,” one Delhiite wrote on X (formerly Twitter), echoing a sentiment of helplessness and anger. Public health experts highlighted that elevated PM2.5 levels pose serious risks even for healthy adults, linking Delhi’s air quality spikes to rising cases of asthma, bronchitis, and cardiovascular complications. Environmental groups, including Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), urged stricter enforcement of cracker bans and long-term investment in public transport and green zones. While the Environment Ministry has insisted that GRAP measures would help “stabilise” conditions, experts remain sceptical given the recurring post-festival spikes. The Logical Indian’s Perspective Year after year, the morning after Diwali serves as a painful reminder that celebration without restraint can darken the very skies we wish to light. Delhi’s deepening smog is not just a matter of air quality but a mirror to collective accountability. While bans and policies play their part, real transformation begins with empathy – the willingness to prioritise public well-being over momentary pleasure.