Bad air days return to haunt Delhi as winter approaches

Cold air and calm winds begin to trap pollutants, creating a toxic cocktail

- Debarshi Dasgupta

NEW DELHI – Like clockwork, every year before the onset of winter, cold air and calm winds begin to trap pollutants from farm fires, industries and vehicle emissions across northern India, transforming its air into a toxic cocktail for millions of its residents.

This year is no different.

India’s capital, New Delhi, has already seen the air quality index (AQI) jump to 313 on Sunday, taking it to the “very poor” level for the first time since May 17.

India’s air quality guidelines define an AQI of between 301 and 400 as “very poor”, while cautioning that such high pollution levels can cause respiratory illness from prolonged exposure.

The range for a “good” AQI rating is between zero and 50, something Delhi has recorded on just one day so far in 2023.

It has, however, seen more than 200 “moderate” days with AQI levels between 101 and 200.

The rise in pollution has led the authorities to implement the second stage of a Graded Response Action Plan that seeks to combat air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

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Under this plan, people have to minimise use of personal vehicles and switch to public transport, and the authorities must intensify dust-control measures at construction sites, among other measures.

Since Sunday, the air quality in Delhi has improved somewhat, but it still hovered in the “poor” category with an AQI of between 201 and 300.

On Wednesday, when the Australian and the Netherlands cricket teams battled it out in a Cricket World Cup match in a Delhi stadium, the AQI was at 243.