Delhi air quality improves marginally but remains ‘very poor’ as smog persists

Delhi saw a slight uptick in air quality on Monday after several days in the “severe” zone, though pollution levels stayed firmly in the “very poor” category as a dense layer of smog blanketed the city.

Residents woke to heavy haze, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 350 at most Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitoring stations. Some pockets continued to record “severe” pollution.

At 8 a.m., Ashok Vihar logged an AQI of 382, while ITO reported 392, Rohini 404 and Punjabi Bagh 383. Under CPCB norms, an AQI reading of 301–400 is classified as “very poor” and 401–500 as “severe”.

Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 377 at 4 p.m. on Sunday. CPCB data showed 18 stations recording “severe” air quality and 20 stations reporting “very poor” levels.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said dust from construction sites, unpaved roads and traffic congestion were the biggest contributors to pollution. He said the government was stepping up efforts to identify hotspots, according to PTI.

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Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System showed stubble burning accounted for 16.3% of Delhi’s pollution on Saturday, while vehicular emissions made up 18.3%, the highest share among sources.

With winter settling in, accumulated dust is thickening into smog, further depressing visibility and air quality. Sirsa said emissions from industrial units relocated to neighbouring states were also impacting Delhi.

The Supreme Court is set to hear on Monday a plea concerning crop-burning practices in Punjab and Haryana. The court earlier directed both states to outline steps taken to curb fires that have worsened Delhi-NCR’s air quality.

The India Meteorological Department has issued severe cold-wave alerts for parts of central India. While northern and western regions brace for fog and a dip in temperatures, southeastern areas are forecast to receive rain and thunderstorms.