Capital continues to breathe ‘toxic’ air

The average AQI of the city keeps fluctuating every day, but the situation at 13 of its pollution hotspots remains severe. Delhi woke up to another morning of heavy smog on Friday, with the city’s air quality staying in the ‘very poor’ category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average AQI stood at 387 at 4 pm, showing a slight improvement from Thursday’s 404, which fell under ‘severe’. Since Diwali, the Capital has been oscillating between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ air quality levels.

On Wednesday, the AQI had touched 418. While the city-level index continues to shift daily, data from the designated hotspots shows no improvement.

Identified in 2018 by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) and the CPCB, these 13 hotspots include Rohini, Vivek Vihar, RK Puram, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla, Mundka, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, Dwarka, Ashok Vihar, Bawana and Anand Vihar. They continue to register some of the highest pollution levels in Delhi.

A review of their daily readings shows AQI levels consistently staying above 400 in most of these locations, even on days when the city average dips.

While average AQI on Friday stayed at 387, it was 428 at Bawana, 414 in Mundka and Rohini, 410 in Vivek Vihar and 432 in Wazirpur.

Early this month, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa chaired a high-level review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat with the Environment Secretary, DPCC, Divisional Commissioners (MCD) and senior officials from other departments. The Minister reviewed the progress of on-ground enforcement teams and directed officials to accelerate anti-pollution drives across all 13 hotspots.

He directed on-ground teams to ensure strict enforcement of anti-pollution measures, including pothole repairs, paving of roads, water sprinkling to mitigate dust, proper disposal of industrial waste and prevention of open burning.

However, localised emissions from waste burning, industrial clusters, construction activities and high vehicular movement continue to keep pollution levels elevated in these zones.

Long-term analysis reinforces this trend. An assessment of annual PM2.5 concentrations at these hotspots shows that 11 of the 13 locations recorded higher average levels in 2024 compared to 2023.

Data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also points to the emergence of new high-pollution clusters. Shadipur, Nehru Nagar, Siri Fort, Alipur, ITO and Patparganj are among 11 additional areas that have consistently recorded elevated PM2.5 concentrations, signalling the spread of pollution beyond traditionally recognised hotspots.