New Delhi: Delhi-NCR’s air quality improved slightly on Thursday as increased wind speeds helped disperse some pollutants. However, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category despite this improvement. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 306 by 4 PM, down from 364 on the previous day. Despite this drop, the national capital maintained its status as the most polluted city in the country.
Forecasts from IITM predict that Delhi’s air quality will remain in the “poor” category on Friday and could worsen to “very poor” over the weekend. In response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced a Rs 20 lakh per zone allocation to bolster air quality management efforts, with plans to increase machinery and manpower to tackle dust pollution in the coming days.
Current AQI values across different localities in Delhi
| S. No. | Area | AQI |
| 1 | Vivek Vihar | 388 |
| 2 | Pooth Khurd, Bawana | 374 |
| 3 | Sonia Vihar | 360 |
| 4 | Rohini | 346 |
| 5 | Rohini, Delhi – DPCC | 346 |
| 6 | VV Block C Station | 336 |
| 7 | Anand Vihar | 327 |
| 8 | Anand Vihar, Delhi – DPCC | 327 |
| 9 | DTU, New Delhi – CPCB | 309 |
| 10 | Narela | 306 |
Delhi remains most polluted for 4th consecutive day
Out of 241 cities monitored, Delhi was the only one in the “very poor” category for the fourth consecutive day. As air quality issues persist, Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, suggested that adjusting government office hours could be one measure to reduce pollution levels. Rai noted that certain areas of the city remain hotspots for pollution, with Anand Vihar being the worst affected. The area reported a severe AQI of 431 on Thursday, highlighting the ongoing challenge despite the day’s slight relief.
Notably as per experts, stronger winds helped improve the situation, with northerly winds reaching speeds of up to 8 km/h during the day. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) noted that an average wind speed of 10 km/h is generally required to effectively disperse pollutants. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) credited these stronger winds for clearing both air pollution and mist in the city.
Stubble burning, transportation remain major concerns
According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), 57 cases of stubble burning were reported in Punjab on Wednesday, alongside 15 in Haryana and 68 in Uttar Pradesh. However, Delhi itself recorded no cases of stubble burning during this period.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s transportation sector emerged as the largest contributor to air pollution on Thursday, accounting for 16.3 per cent of emissions, up from 13.5 per cent on Wednesday, according to the Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management.
