New Delhi, India: The national capital is once again grappling with deteriorating air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) officially slipping into the ‘Poor’ category on Sunday morning. According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI near the ITO area was recorded at 284, signaling a significant health concern for residents.
Understanding the Air Quality Status
The CPCB categorizes air quality as follows:
| AQI Range | Classification |
| 0-50 | Good |
| 51-100 | Satisfactory |
| 101-200 | Moderate |
| 201-300 | Poor |
| 301-400 | Very Poor |
| 401-500 | Severe |
Despite the poor air quality, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a clear sky for Sunday, with maximum temperatures around $33^\circ\text{C}$ and a minimum of $19^\circ\text{C}$.
The Human Cost: Cyclists and Sinus Patients Suffer
The impact of the worsening air quality is already being felt by vulnerable groups. Aryan Gupta, a local cyclist, voiced the difficulties faced by residents.
"Just like every year, pollution in Delhi persists...It causes difficulty in breathing, especially to cyclists like me...I have cycled for 20km from Rohini...I have sinus, so it makes it more difficult for me to breathe properly...there’s also irritation in eyes," Gupta told ANI.
He dismissed temporary measures, stating, "closing of schools and colleges are temporary solutions," emphasizing the need for long-term strategies.
Beyond Firecrackers: Identifying Major Contributors
While the approaching Diwali festival will see fireworks contribute to the declining air quality, experts and residents point to persistent, systemic issues as the main culprits.
The pollution is significantly exacerbated by three major factors:
Crop Burning: Stubble burning in neighboring states like Punjab.
Vehicle Emissions: High vehicular traffic within the capital.
Geographical Disadvantage: Delhi’s status as a landlocked area causes it to collect and retain pollution from surrounding states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Gupta suggested proactive technological interventions to mitigate the problem: "We can install smoke towers and create artificial rain to tackle this...the major contributors are not firecrackers, but the vehicle emissions and crop burning."
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