Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement on Friday morning, but pollution levels remained dangerously high across most parts of the city, keeping the capital firmly in the ‘very poor’ zone.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 8 am recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 370, a slight dip from 391 logged at 4 pm on November 20.
Despite the minor relief, monitoring stations across Delhi continued to report unhealthy air. According to CPCB readings, IGI Airport T3 reported an AQI of 307, ITO stood at 378, and Punjabi Bagh recorded 379. Other hotspots such as Najafgarh (350), North Campus DU (385), Aya Nagar (340), and CRRI Mathura Road (370) also remained in the ‘very poor’ category.
Some areas, however, crossed into the ‘severe’ range. Anand Vihar registered an AQI of 418, Ashok Vihar recorded 411, while Rohini and RK Puram reported 424 and 401, respectively.
Iconic locations, including India Gate, Akshardham, and Kartavya Path, were shrouded in thick smog on Friday morning, continuing a trend from the previous day. On Thursday, the city woke up to a blanket of toxic haze, with the average AQI hitting 399 at 9 am, almost unchanged from Wednesday’s readings of 392.
As pollution worsens, the judiciary has intervened. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday told the city government that schoolchildren must not be made to participate in outdoor sports during the polluted winter months of November to January. Justice Sachin Datta, who heard a petition filed by minor students, criticised authorities for failing to safeguard children’s health and urged a revision of the sports calendar to avoid outdoor events during this hazardous period.
The Supreme Court also issued directions during its hearing on the ongoing air pollution crisis. A bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai instructed Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to ensure construction workers affected by the enforcement of GRAP-3 receive financial support. The Court further stressed that air pollution cases must be listed monthly, and asked states to strengthen and regularly review preventive measures.
To contain the escalating pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III across the NCR from November 11. The strict measures curb construction activity, limit vehicular movement, and impose tighter controls on industrial operations.
