Delhi’s AQI is close to 500, reaching high levels in many areas; visibility decreases amid dense fog | Today’s news
Air quality in Delhi deteriorated to hazardous levels on Friday morning, with the capital’s overall air quality index (AQI) touching 403 at 8:40 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to a report by news agency ANI, the average AQI of the capital was 494 at 7:31 am.
Dense fog and pollution engulfed several parts of the city, reducing visibility, while several monitoring stations recorded severe levels of pollution.
According to the CPCB, IIT Delhi was among the worst affected locations and recorded an AQI of 488. It was followed by ITO with an AQI of 455, JNU 451, while Anand Vihar recorded 419, Rohini 413 and Rajokri Border 402. All fell under the severe category.
Other parts of the national capital also reported very poor air quality. In all over 33 stations in the capital they recorded over 400, heavy category.
The government deployed water sprinklers
Amid worsening air quality, the Delhi government has deployed water sprinklers across the city.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday criticized the BJP-led government in Delhi and questioned the credibility of CPCB’s AQI data.
Citing a report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Bharadwaj claimed that the pollution levels shown on the government’s website were 49% lower than the actual figures. He termed the alleged discrepancy as a fraud against the people of Delhi.
In an interview with ANI, Bharadwaj claimed that the AQI reading of 370 could have been closer to 560 or higher based on the findings he cited.
He also questioned the CPCB’s handling of readings above 999, claiming that the agency did not display readings above this limit because its measurement system failed to record the higher levels.
What did the CREA report find?
The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), in its analysis of hourly PM2.5 data from 59 monitoring stations across Delhi, found 255 missing hourly station records between 4 pm on November 8 and 4 pm on November 9, according to ANI.
The analysis also noted an increase in the 24-hour average concentration of PM2.5 from 269 to 400 micrograms per cubic meter, an increase of almost 49%.
Bharadwaj cited these findings to point out discrepancies between recorded pollution levels and those displayed on official government platforms.
