New Delhi: Delhi experienced a slight improvement in air quality on Monday, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 244, placing it in the ‘poor’ category after remaining in the ‘very poor’ range the previous day. The improvement, though marginal, offers temporary relief for residents who have been grappling with dense smog and persistent pollution in the national capital.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app showed that while most parts of Delhi registered improved readings, four monitoring stations still recorded ‘very poor’ air quality. Chandni Chowk emerged as the most polluted location, logging an AQI of 321, the highest among all stations. Meanwhile, 25 stations remained in the ‘poor’ category, and nine stations recorded air quality in the ‘moderate’ range.

For context, the CPCB classifies air quality as follows: an AQI between 0 and 50 is ‘good,’ 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe.’

The Decision Support System analysis pointed to transport emissions as the largest contributor to Delhi’s pollution load, accounting for 13.7 per cent, followed by peripheral industries at 11.4 per cent, residential sources at 3.3 per cent, construction at 1.2 per cent, and waste burning at one per cent. Among the districts in the National Capital Region (NCR), Jhajjar contributed the most at 19.6 per cent, followed by Sonipat at 8.6 per cent. Rohtak and Meerut each contributed 4.4 per cent, Panipat 1.3 per cent, and Gurugram 1.2 per cent.

Air quality in the morning hours stood at 256, with 24 stations recording ‘poor’ conditions and six stations registering ‘very poor.’ Chandni Chowk again reported the highest reading at 334, underscoring its vulnerability to concentrated vehicular and industrial emissions.

The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast indicates a fluctuating pattern over the next week. Air quality is expected to remain ‘moderate’ on January 6, worsen to ‘poor’ on January 7 and 8, and hover between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ for the subsequent six days. On Sunday at 4 pm, Delhi had recorded an AQI of 307, solidly in the ‘very poor’ category.

Weather Conditions and Forecast

On the meteorological front, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 18.5 degrees Celsius on Monday, slightly below the seasonal average by 0.8 degree, while the minimum temperature settled at 6.6 degrees Celsius, 0.3 degrees below the normal for this period. Relative humidity was high, rising from 92 per cent at 8:30 am to 99 per cent by 5:30 pm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Station-specific data revealed Safdarjung with a maximum of 18 degrees Celsius, Palam 15.3 degrees, Lodhi Road 17.8 degrees, Ridge 17.7 degrees, and Ayanagar 17 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures included Safdarjung at 6.6 degrees, Palam seven degrees, Lodhi Road 7.2 degrees, Ridge 8.4 degrees, and Ayanagar at 5.4 degrees Celsius.

For Tuesday, the IMD has forecast a minimum temperature of around seven degrees Celsius and a maximum near 19 degrees Celsius. Moderate fog is expected in the morning hours, particularly in low-lying areas. While no significant fog was reported on Monday, the meteorological department cautioned that dense fog may occur at isolated locations and moderate fog at several places over the next two days.

“Minimum temperatures are likely to fall after the western disturbance moves away and are expected to range between six and eight degrees Celsius over the next five days,” an IMD official said. The cooler conditions combined with intermittent fog and calm winds may contribute to the persistence of particulate matter in the atmosphere, limiting the overall improvement in air quality.

Conclusion

While the slight improvement in Delhi’s AQI to the ‘poor’ category offers some relief for residents, air pollution remains a pressing concern. Experts advise limiting outdoor activities, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions, and taking precautions like wearing masks and using air purifiers indoors. With pollution sources ranging from vehicular emissions to industrial activity, authorities continue to monitor conditions closely and implement mitigation measures to protect public health.