Wazirpur and Bawana slip back into ‘severe’ air quality even as city-wide levels stay ‘very poor’

Delhi’s air quality stayed in the ‘very poor’ category on Thursday, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349 at 7 AM, a day after Stage III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) were lifted.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had withdrawn Grap Stage III restrictions on Wednesday after the overall AQI improved from ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’, allowing a relaxation of curbs on construction activity and other high-emission operations.

Hotspots Back In ‘Severe’ Zone
Despite the easing of curbs, several neighbourhoods continued to report highly polluted air. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed Wazirpur with an AQI of 406 and Bawana at 405, both in the ‘severe’ band. Anand Vihar was around 390, just below the ‘severe’ threshold of 400.

Only a handful of stations, including Mandir Marg, Lodhi Road, Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Sri Aurobindo Marg and Aya Nagar, reported comparatively better readings in the ‘poor’ category, with AQI levels below 300.

Two Weeks Of ‘Very Poor’ Air
According to CPCB figures, Delhi has now faced at least 14 consecutive days in the ‘very poor’ category, with forecasts indicating no significant improvement in the immediate term. Authorities are expected to continue monitoring localised hotspots even as city-wide restrictions remain at a lower Grap level.