Delhi sees cleanest May in over a decade: Sirsa

Delhi’s air quality has shown a marked improvement in the first five months of 2025, with the city recording its cleanest May in over a decade.

While addressing the media, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa credited the gains to the Delhi Government’s intensified anti-pollution drive and sustainable urban planning under the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta and guidance of PM Narendra Modi.

As per official data, the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) from January to May 2025 stood at 214, compared to 231 during the same period in 2024. The PM2.5 concentration also dropped from 111 µg/m³ last year to 95 µg/m³ this year. May 2025 alone saw AQI levels fall into the ‘moderate’ category — an unusual feat for a month that typically sees ‘poor’ air quality.

“The steady decline in pollutant levels is proof that our comprehensive and multi-pronged approach is working,” said Sirsa. “Unlike previous governments that failed on execution, our measures are yielding results on the ground.”

The minister recently chaired a high-level review meeting with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to reinforce enforcement of dust mitigation norms at construction sites. Instructions were issued for the mandatory use of anti-smog guns, video surveillance with PM2.5 sensors, and real-time monitoring through PTZ cameras. AI-based compliance systems and visible display of DPCC clearances at sites have also been mandated.

City-wide measures such as mechanised sweeping, pole-mounted sprinklers, expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure and increased Metro-bus integration have been scaled up. Efforts to control industrial and landfill pollution are also underway, including the promotion of cleaner technologies and decentralised waste processing.

A Rs 506-crore Budget has been earmarked for environmental initiatives in 2025-26, with Rs 300 crore dedicated to emergency pollution control measures. Six new real-time air monitoring stations will soon be installed. Other initiatives include a mass plantation drive of 70 lakh saplings and the development of vertical gardens and green rooftops.