‘Improving Delhi’s pollution level was most difficult’: Delhi CM

After the Environment Ministry announced that Delhi had recorded the highest number of ‘good to moderate’ air quality days this year since 2016, excluding 2020, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal emphasized the immense difficulty of improving the city’s air quality.

He stated that this achievement was the result of numerous measures implemented by the people of Delhi, overcoming what seemed like an impossible task.

Although there is still a long way to go, Kejriwal praised the determination of Delhi’s residents, who have consistently accomplished what others deemed unattainable.

Furthermore, Delhi experienced the fewest number of days with ‘poor to severe’ air quality in the first half of 2023 (January to June), compared to the same period in previous years since 2016, except for the pandemic-affected year of 2020. Additionally, the average air quality index (AQI) for Delhi during this period remained in the ‘moderate’ category, staying below 200. In fact, Delhi reported its lowest average AQI for the January-June period in 2023, when compared to the corresponding period over the past seven years.

The Environment Ministry highlighted that this improvement signifies a significant reduction in air pollutants, including lower levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), as well as other harmful emissions.

(With PTI inputs)