GRAP II measures imposed in Delhi-NCR on Diwali eve; AQI ‘very poor’

Delhi’s air turned ‘poor’ last week with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reading 211. Delhi’s AQI was ‘poor’ last on June 11. There are two types of ozone – one in the upper atmosphere, which creates a shield against harmful ultraviolet rays and ground-level ozone, exposure to which may increase frequency of asthma attacks, can aggravate lung diseases such as emphysema, and chronic bronchitis, and inflame airways.

Delhi has seen a long spell of clean air this year, with July getting 29 days of satisfactory AQI. Heavy rain over the past three months has been a major contributory factor. Apart from that last Wednesday, even as Delhi’s AQI crossed 300 and the haze began to thicken, the Supreme Court allowed the sale and use of green firecrackers for the first time since a complete ban was imposed in 2020. The relaxation, limited to two days and fixed hours, was welcomed by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who called it a “balanced” move between “tradition and environment”.