New Delhi woke up to a heavy blanket of smog on Sunday morning as the city’s air quality deteriorated, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 303 at 9 am, squarely placing the capital in the “very poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Despite authorities claiming a marginal improvement in recent weeks, large sections of the National Capital remained shrouded in a thick layer of toxic haze, drastically reducing visibility in areas like Anand Vihar and ITO.
Pollution Widespread Across the Capital
The CPCB data confirmed that pollution levels were dangerously high across Delhi’s monitoring stations. Regions recording ‘very poor’ air quality (301-400) included:
- Bawana: 352
- Ashok Vihar: 322
- Burari: 318
- Chandani Chowk: 307
- Dwarka: 307
(An AQI between 301-400 is classified as ‘very poor,’ which is associated with respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.)
Government’s Response to Health Concerns
The ongoing air crisis prompted the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to address the severe health risks associated with the pollution. In a statement released on Friday following a question in the Rajya Sabha, the government acknowledged the issue.
Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh responded to media reports suggesting that “one in every seven deaths in Delhi can be attributed to the city’s toxic air,” stating that various academic and research institutions have conducted studies on the impact of air pollution. He also noted that in 2025, not a single day had the AQI reached the ‘severe-plus’ level in Delhi.
To combat the continuously deteriorating air quality, the government has implemented several key measures in Delhi-NCR:
- Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Established to oversee air quality management through a “collective, collaborative, and participative mode.”
- Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Prepared by the CAQM to tackle pollution during peak winter months.
- Stricter Norms: Implementation of stricter emission regulations for polluting activities in the NCR region.
Authorities continue to conduct regular review meetings to monitor progress, but the visible smog layer on Sunday morning demonstrates the persistent challenge facing the capital.