Delhi air quality sees ‘improvement,’ prompting rollback of pollution curbs

With Delhi's air quality index improving from "severe" to "very poor", authorities on Tuesday pulled back the stringent anti-smog restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Delhi air quality sees a slight improvement

The 24-hour average AQI in the national capital stood at 312 or "very poor" at 4 pm, the Central Pollution Control Board showed. By evening, levels progressed further to 294 or "poor", prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to announce relaxing curbs.

#WATCH | Faint layer of haze covers Delhi as air quality remains in 'very poor' category

Drone visuals from DND area pic.twitter.com/qXk39pDjEj

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

"Keeping in view the disruptive nature of Stage 3 restrictions and considering the significant improvement in average AQI, the GRAP committee unanimously decided to revoke Stage 3 in the entire NCR with immediate effect," CAQM's statement said.

What restrictions were eased in Delhi? 

Taking notes from the improving air quality in Delhi, the panel lifted the ban on private four-wheelers besides construction work after projections showed air quality was unlikely to deteriorate into the "severe" zone again soon. Minimum temperatures also increased after recent rainfall.

#WATCH | Delhi: Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the ‘Poor’ category in the national capital.

(Drone visuals from Punjabi Bagh shot at 6:40 Am) pic.twitter.com/4xlm28oJ2u

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

However, while Delhi's real-time AQI fluctuated between poor to lower end of very poor on Tuesday based on data from multiple monitoring stations, authorities have cautioned against prematurely dropping guard.

Sustained, coordinated mitigation remains vital to the emergence from the annual pollution crisis, experts opined.

"We've seen multiple ups and downs in pollution levels this season. The situation remains complex and demands long-term action on key sources like farm fires," said Dr Sagnik Dey of IIT Delhi.

For now, the respite from severe conditions granted citizens temporary relief. But as Delhi winters intensify over the coming weeks, the government and the people should be ready to fill the gaps of the past lapses.