Air quality improves in Delhi after rain; focus shifts to ozone levels

New Delhi: A sigh of relief for the Delhi residents as the last week’s rain has brought happiness among the faces of the people of the city. The air quality in Delhi reached the “moderate” category instead of “severe” on Monday, with the air quality index (AQI) recorded at 183, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar). Although the AQI on Sunday was recorded at 139.

In spite of improvement in the air quality of the national capital, several areas, such as Anand Vihar, RK Puram, Patparganj, and Jahangirpuri, are still on the receiving end, experiencing poor air quality as per the data.

Safar-India categorizes AQI levels as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe). The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has warned that prolonged exposure to high pollution levels can lead to severe respiratory illnesses.

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Following continuous rainfall, pollution restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were lifted in Delhi on Friday. However, measures under Stages 1 and 2 remain in place. Authorities are monitoring the situation to ensure air quality does not worsen again.

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Central Government regarding the feasibility of implementing recommendations by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to control rising ozone levels in Delhi.

The CPCB has made it clear that ozone formation is linked to precursors like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While reducing emissions from local sources is important, the report stressed that ozone and its forerunners can travel long distances, making the issue difficult.