New Delhi. A layer of smog covered Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning, due to which the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded ‘poor’ level. This happened despite the government ban on firecrackers two days after Diwali. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average AQI at 7:30 am on Saturday was 294, with 18 areas having AQI above 300, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. The most affected areas included Anand Vihar (380), IGI Airport (341), RK Puram (340), and Punjabi Bagh (335).
Besides, 19 other areas had AQI between 200-300, which falls in the ‘poor’ category, including Alipore (295), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (284) and Mundka (288). Among cities neighboring Delhi, Faridabad in Haryana had an AQI of 165, which falls in the ‘moderate’ category, while Gurugram had an AQI of 219, which falls in the ‘poor’ category. The AQI in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was 308, which is in the ‘very poor’ category; 202 in Greater Noida, which is in the ‘poor’ category; And the AQI in Noida was at 250, indicating equally ‘poor’ air quality. On Friday, the air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas remained in the ‘very poor’ category as many people burst crackers till Friday night despite the firecracker ban and government appeals.
Delhi’s air quality has witnessed a decline in the last few weeks, mainly due to stubble burning and slowing down of wind. The Delhi government had banned firecrackers from October 14 to January 1, 2025, and deployed 377 enforcement teams to strictly enforce the rule. However, many residents ignored the ban and celebrated Diwali, which adversely affected the air quality of the area. As per AQI parameters: 0-50 ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’ ranges. Comes.