The air quality in India's national capital continues to deteriorate alarmingly, with pollution levels reaching hazardous heights despite implementing stricter control measures and conducting expensive artificial rain experiments. The situation remains critical across Delhi and its neighboring cities, posing serious health risks to millions of residents.
Current Pollution Levels Across Delhi-NCR
According to the Early Warning System for Delhi, the city's Air Quality Index recorded a worrying 364 AQI at 7 am on Tuesday. The pollution crisis has engulfed monitoring stations throughout the capital, with several areas reporting even more severe conditions.
Anand Vihar documented dangerously high levels at 401 AQI, while Wazirpur followed closely at 400 AQI. Other severely affected areas included Punjabi Bagh (391 AQI), Narela (377 AQI), ITO (379 AQI), and Najafgarh (332 AQI). The pollution emergency extends beyond Delhi's boundaries, with Noida recording 419 AQI, Gurugram at 351 AQI, and Greater Noida reporting 340 AQI.
Ethiopian Volcanic Ash Cloud: Threat or Non-Event?
A new environmental development has emerged as a volcanic ash cloud from the Hayli Gubbi eruption in Ethiopia has reached Indian skies, creating a thin haze layer over parts of Delhi. However, meteorological authorities have downplayed its potential impact on the already critical pollution situation.
IMD director general M Mohapatra clarified that the volcanic plume is traveling at very high altitudes and isn't expected to significantly worsen Delhi's ground-level pollution. "It is unclear whether it will impact air quality, but any significant impact is unlikely as it is at higher levels," Mohapatra told Hindustan Times.
The ash cloud is currently nearing Gujarat and will likely influence Delhi-NCR and northern India regions within the next few hours. While aviation operations might experience some disruption, surface-level effects will be limited. Residents may notice hazy, cloudy skies and possibly a marginal temperature rise as the ash mass behaves similarly to cloud cover before moving eastward.
Strengthened Anti-Pollution Measures Under Revised GRAP
Responding to the persistent pollution crisis and Supreme Court observations, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) introduced significant updates to Delhi-NCR's pollution-response framework on Friday. The revised Graded Response Action Plan implements several crucial changes designed to combat air pollution more effectively.
The most important modification involves lowering the threshold for action. Anti-pollution measures that were previously activated only when AQI entered the 'Very Poor' category will now be implemented as soon as it reaches the 'Poor' category. This proactive approach includes interventions such as staggered office timings, expanded public transport services, and work-from-home arrangements being triggered earlier than before.
These revisions come despite the recent cloud-seeding experiment aimed at producing artificial rain—an initiative that consumed several crores of public funds yet failed to deliver substantial improvement in air quality conditions. The continued deterioration highlights the complex challenge of managing Delhi's pollution crisis, requiring sustained multi-pronged approaches rather than isolated technological interventions.
