AQI at 85, Delhi logs its cleanest air this year; GRAP I curbs withdrawn

According to official data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the last time a better Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded was on September 29, 2024, when it stood at 76.

This was also the first time in the last five years that a ‘satisfactory’ AQI was observed in March. Typically, ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ AQI days are observed in this month. It is only in the latter half of the year, i.e., from August, that it is more common to observe ‘satisfactory’ AQI days.

Following this improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas revoked the anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP- I) with immediate effect Saturday evening.

A statement issued by the Commission read, “AQI of Delhi has shown significant improvement due to favourable winds, light rain/drizzling and improved meteorological conditions prevailing in Delhi-NCR… Further, the forecast by IMD/ IITM also predicts AQI to mainly remain in the ‘satisfactory’ to ‘moderate’ category in the coming days.”

It cited this to be the cause for revoking the anti-pollution measures. However, the air quality monitoring body maintained that all agencies are required to follow “dust-mitigation measures for construction and demolition activities and road or open areas, which would become a pre-dominant factor in the coming months determining the air quality in Delhi-NCR”.

When asked about the improvement, officials in the CAQM attributed this positive development to both meteorological conditions and on-ground pollution control measures taken by the NCR states and Delhi.

The IMD, in its daily weather bulletin, reported that strong surface winds from the Southeasterly direction up to 20 kmph were observed in the Capital in the last 24 hours. Saturday mainly saw wind speeds reaching up to 10kmph, confirmed officials and data provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

What also helped was the rain. Rainfall was reported in the northern plains, ranging from moderate rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir to light rainfall in the Capital and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh.

As per the Met Office, very light rainfall of 1.5 mm was recorded in SPS Mayur Vihar station, whereas trace rainfall was reported in Safdarjung, which is representative of the capital, as well as Palam and Lodhi Road stations.

IMD forecast

On Sunday, the IMD has forecast mist conditions in the morning, along with a partly cloudy sky and a possibility of very light rain or drizzle. Additionally, strong surface winds of up to 35 kmph are expected.

The wind activity (strong winds up to 35 kmph) is expected to continue until Tuesday. From Tuesday to Thursday, the Capital is forecast to experience a partly cloudy sky. As a result, both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain close to normal.

For the coming week, the temperature is expected to range between 16.5°C and 31.3°C. A slight drop in temperatures is anticipated on Tuesday, though conditions will remain near the seasonal average.

On Saturday, though, the maximum saw a dip but remained above normal by four degrees at 33 degrees Celsius, and the minimum saw a slight increase at 18.7 degrees; it was around four notches above normal.