Delhi AQI Today: Air Stays Poor for 3rd Day, GRAP-1 On

Other stations included IIT Delhi (221), Burari Crossing (217), Chandni Chowk (211), Pusa (209), Sirifort (209), Dwarka-Sector 8 (206), Commonwealth Sports Complex (198), Mandir Marg (186), NSIT Dwarka (182), Burari (180), Uttam Nagar (170), Aya Nagar (168), Karala (165), Jharoda Kalan (148) and Vasundhara Enclave (146).

Friday Saw ‘Very Poor’ Spikes

On Friday, three stations slipped into the ‘very poor’ category: Pusa (319), R.K. Puram (307) and Punjabi Bagh (302). Of the 56 stations that reported data, 36 recorded poor air quality, while the rest were in the moderate range.

GRAP Stage I Remains in Force

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR earlier this week after the AQI slipped into the poor category. The measures focus on dust suppression, compliance with construction and demolition norms, better waste management and control of vehicular emissions.

Sirsa Orders Hotspot-Specific Action Plans

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has directed officials to draw up targeted action plans for identified pollution hotspots. These plans will identify local sources, assign responsibility to the agencies concerned and set deadlines for corrective action.

At a review meeting, Sirsa asked officials to analyse AQI monitoring data to pinpoint the main contributors in different areas, including road dust, vehicular congestion, construction, unauthorised parking and waste burning.

What’s Polluting Delhi’s Air

Government data shows transport is the largest contributor among the listed sources at 20.3 per cent. It is followed by residential sources (5.2 per cent), industries (4.2 per cent), construction (2.6 per cent), energy (2 per cent), waste burning (1.8 per cent), road dust (1.4 per cent) and other sources (1.3 per cent).

Why It Matters

Late October usually marks the start of Delhi’s toughest pollution stretch, as cooler temperatures and slower winds trap pollutants close to the ground. With Diwali celebrations approaching in the coming weeks, early action at the hotspot level could decide how severe the coming weeks become for residents, especially children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions.

What Comes Next

If weather conditions stay unfavourable, authorities may need to move to stricter GRAP stages. For now, the success of Sirsa’s hotspot-specific approach will depend on how quickly agencies act on the ground.