Delhi’s AQI Rises to 360 Post-Diwali; DPCC Reports Moderate Pollution

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Nov. Delhi’s air quality showed only a moderate increase this Diwali despite reports of widespread norm violations, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The city’s 24-hour average AQI rose from 328 on Diwali day to 360 the next day, averting the sharp spikes typically seen during the festive period, DPCC noted.

The DPCC report highlighted a mixed trend in particulate matter levels, with PM2.5 levels showing a 4% decrease compared to last year, while PM10 levels rose by 11%. PM2.5 particles, which pose significant health risks due to their small size, remained within the acceptable annual standard of 40 micrograms per cubic meter.

However, contrasting data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicated that this Diwali was the most polluted in three years. CPCB reported Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI at 330 on Diwali, compared to 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022. By Friday morning, the AQI had climbed to 362, with 37 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations showing “very poor” air quality.

A key factor in managing air quality was a 51% reduction in stubble-burning incidents across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, as per the report. Government-led pollution control efforts also played a role, including a city-wide dust control campaign and a fifth consecutive year of a comprehensive firecracker ban. Enforcement was backed by 377 teams monitoring compliance, and police vigilance in neighborhoods ensured the ban’s effectiveness.

In terms of gaseous pollutants, DPCC confirmed that ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and benzene levels all remained within National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). With the forecast predicting continued “very poor” air quality until November 3, efforts to maintain air quality remain in focus amid Delhi’s peak pollution season.