Delhi’s Anand Vihar records ‘very poor’ air quality amid rising pollution in city

As the monsoon season retreats from the Delhi-NCR region, pollution levels are once again rising. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of “Moderate” with an average of 162 over 24 hours on Thursday, signalling the start of a challenging air quality season.
Some areas have already reported severe pollution levels. Anand Vihar, near the Delhi-Ghaziabad border, recorded a 24-hour AQI of 389, placing it in the “Very Poor” category, nearing “Severe”. Other areas like Mundka, Dwarka, and Wazirpur reported AQI levels above 200, which is considered “Poor”.
The worsening air quality is primarily due to dry conditions and westerly winds, causing dust particles, specifically PM10, to become the main pollutant in the city.
Pollution has also increased in nearby areas. Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 178, and Noida reached 172, both surpassing Delhi’s average. Baghpat had the highest pollution levels in the region, with an AQI of 198, still categorized as “Moderate” but nearing “Poor.”
However, Gurugram and Faridabad recorded much lower AQIs of 58 and 85, respectively, indicating “Satisfactory” air quality.
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Centre, and Punjab and Haryana governments, for failing to take enough steps to tackle air pollution in the national capital and stressed that nothing concrete was happening on the ground, except for meetings.