The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi:
Delhi witnessed a marginal improvement in air quality on Wednesday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 269 at 8 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Despite the improvement from the previous reading of 282 recorded at 4 pm on December 9, the city continues to remain in the ‘poor’ category, with a thin layer of smog lingering across several areas.
Major parts of the city, including India Gate, Kartavya Path, ITO, Anand Vihar, and Ghazipur, reported thick haze early in the day, severely affecting visibility. Several regions even slipped into the ‘very poor’ category. Jahangirpuri registered an AQI of 313, Wazirpur 305, and Vivek Vihar 306, indicating high pollution levels.
Some localities, however, showed signs of improvement. Chandni Chowk recorded an AQI of 281, RK Puram 283, Punjabi Bagh 279, while IIT Delhi reported a significantly lower AQI of 218, still within the ‘poor’ range but better than many other regions.
As per AQI standards:
0–50: Good
51–100: Satisfactory
101–200: Moderate
201–300: Poor
301–400: Very Poor
401–500: Severe
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assured residents that the government is actively addressing pollution through multi-pronged measures. She highlighted ongoing efforts to install mist sprayers on electric poles to help reduce particulate matter and curb dust.
“Our fight against pollution continues in mission mode. Factors like smoke, dust, vehicular emissions, open garbage burning, and wood burning together deteriorate air quality. The government is working on every aspect contributing to pollution,” Gupta said.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister revealed that hundreds of sprinkler vehicles are currently engaged in washing the city’s Ring Road at regular intervals, aiming to reduce dust levels.
“For the first time in Delhi, hundreds of sprinklers are washing Ring Road. This is part of our mission for pollution control. Road washing at regular intervals is helping reduce dust and reflects the government’s strong resolve to ensure clean air for citizens,” she wrote.
