Days before Diwali, AQI in Delhi already ‘very poor’
Blame game between AAP-BJP as killer air grips Delhi & north India
Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air quality, endangering public health and daily life (Photo: MIG)
Even before the arrival of Diwali, during which firecrackers send air quality index shooting beyond measurable limits, the national capital Delhi has already been engulfed in thick smog for past many days. A usual blame game is on between Aam Admi Party which governs Delhi and the Bhartiya Janata Party at the Centre as usual reasons for air pollution grip entire north India. Despite Graded Response Action Plan, (GRAP) Stage 2 measures, the capital continues to grapple with hazardous pollution levels.

Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air quality, endangering public health and daily life (Photo: MIG)
Delhi, the world’s most polluted capital city, woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Wednesday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 354, placing it in the “very poor” category. Despite the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 2 restrictions, the city continues to struggle with hazardous air quality, endangering public health and daily life.
Stage 2 GRAP is a set of measures activated when air quality deteriorates to “very poor” levels, like the current situation in Delhi, where the AQI has reached hazardous levels. GRAP aims to mitigate pollution by implementing stricter controls on dust, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollutants.
Key actions under Stage 2 include increased mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling to control road dust, particularly at pollution hotspots. The use of dust suppressant powders mixed with water during sprinkling is mandated to further curb particulate matter. Additional municipal workers are deployed to ensure thorough cleaning of roads.
Restrictions are also placed on the use of coal, firewood, and diesel generators, while private vehicle use is discouraged by increasing parking charges and expanding public transport services. Metro services are increased, and bus intervals are reduced to encourage public transport usage.
These measures are implemented across the National Capital Region (NCR) to combat the worsening air quality and reduce pollution sources during winter when meteorological conditions, such as low wind speeds and temperature drops, hinder the dispersal of pollutants.
Critics argue that while GRAP’s phased actions are important, they are reactionary and lack the long-term vision needed to address Delhi’s pollution problem comprehensively. For instance, restrictions on generator use, while impactful, disproportionately affect small businesses and residential complexes.
“The Graded Response Action Plan is an essential framework, its implementation has been patchy. Measures like mechanised road sweeping and daily water sprinkling at construction sites aim to control dust, a major pollutant. However, enforcing these rules has been difficult, with construction activities often continuing unchecked. Increased vehicle parking fees to discourage private transport and deploying extra traffic personnel have been introduced, but the systemic shift needed to curb emissions has yet to be realised,” Aaqib Asad, 29-year-old UPSC aspirant, who lives in Batla House in Delhi tells Media India Group.
According to a forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the daily average AQI of Delhi is expected to stay in the ‘very poor’ category in the coming days owing to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions.
As the city’s air quality plummets, hospitals are witnessing a worrying 15 pc surge in respiratory illnesses, sparking fresh concerns among both residents and health experts.
“I believe the current air quality in Delhi, with an AQI of 354 and ‘very poor’ pollution levels, underscores the severity of the situation. Despite the efforts under GRAP Stage 2, we are still grappling with pollution control, and the health implications are concerning. Prolonged exposure to these levels of air pollution can lead to respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and an increase in hospitalisations, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions,” Bhavreen Khandhari, environmental activist tells Media India Group.
While the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a crucial emergency response to Delhi’s air quality crisis, it is evident that reactive measures alone cannot adequately address the problem. Khandhari says city’s ongoing struggles with pollution highlight the need for more proactive and sustainable solutions.
“I believe that while GRAP is necessary, it is clear that reactive measures are not enough. For instance, the ban on firecrackers comes too late in the year, as manufacturers have already sold them and they remain easily accessible from neighbouring states. Additionally, alternatives to diesel generators, like solar or battery-powered systems, tend to be expensive and often face delays from electricity providers such as BSES. Ultimately, convenience and affordability continue to pose significant challenges in the transition to cleaner technologies,” she adds.
To effectively tackle the air quality crisis in Delhi, Khandheri says we must focus on long-term, systemic solutions that address the root causes of emissions, including those from waste, vehicles, and industries. Merely implementing emergency measures will not suffice; we need comprehensive strategies that can yield sustainable results.
“I believe we need long-term, systemic solutions to address the root causes of emissions, whether from waste, vehicles, or industries. This requires stronger enforcement of emission standards and proactive interventions to prevent seasonal pollution sources like stubble burning. We should consider withdrawing harvesting threshers and incentivizing farmers to adopt manual harvesting methods. Additionally, improving infrastructure for electric vehicles is crucial, as they are currently expensive to buy and maintain due to costly chargers and limited battery life. Policy initiatives like low-emission zones, congestion taxes, and incentives for citizens who adopt eco-friendly practices will also be vital. Without such comprehensive and sustained efforts throughout the year, the air quality crisis in Delhi will only worsen,” Khandhari adds.
Delhi’s air quality problem is not new, with the city historically grappling with severe pollution during the winter months. A convergence of factors, including vehicular emissions, industrial activities exacerbates the issue each year.
One of the key contributors to Delhi’s pollution during this period is the large-scale burning of paddy stubble in neighbouring states. Despite awareness campaigns and incentives to farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, stubble burning remains widespread. Farmers argue that they lack feasible alternatives, and efforts to introduce stubble recycling machines and other technologies have seen limited success. Each year, this practice contributes to a massive spike in particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), choking Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in a thick smog. Haryana police have also arrested 14 farmers in Kaithal over the past few days for stubble burning in their fields.
But these half measures are unlikely to anything to improve the situation in the short-term. The weather forecast for the next few days means that as Diwali approaches, with large-scale use of firecrackers, the AQI in Delhi will repeat its past performance when it shot beyond measurable limits, while both the ruling parties, at the Centre and in Delhi State, continue to blame each other for failing to curb air pollution.