Air Quality

Surat takes top spot in air quality rankings followed by Jabalpur, Agra

Surat has been ranked as the top major city in India for air quality improvements followed by Jabalpur and Agra. The Union Environment Ministry presented the National Clean Air City Awards during the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 held at a national workshop celebrating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in Jaipur on Saturday. While Surat, Jabalpur and Agra secured the top three positions among cities with population of over 10 lakh, Firozabad (UP), Amravati (Maharashtra) and Jhansi (UP) were recognized as the best among cities with population between three lakh and 10 lakh. Raebareli (UP), Nalgonda (Telangana) and Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh) topped the list among the cities with populations under three lakh. Swachh Vayu Survekshan is an initiative by the ministry to rank cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). These cities were awarded for ...

Greenpeace India warns of poor air quality in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru

Three major cities in Karnataka -- Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Mysuru -- have registered deteriorating air quality as the air pollution is on the rise, said a Greenpeace India report on Saturday. The report, 'Spare the Air 2' flags serious health concerns as the average PM 2.5 and PM10 levels soar in 10 major cities of southern India, significantly exceeding the air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is a type of air pollution that consists of tiny particles that are 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. PM10 is an air quality term for particulate matter that is 10 micrometers. The report has analysed the air quality standards of Hyderabad, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Mangaluru, Amravati, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru, Mysuru and Puducherry. The lead researcher of the report Akanksha Singh said, "Clean air is fundamental to our health, yet this report reveals that particulate matter levels in all cities have ...

Delhi breathes clean air for 128 days in first half of 2024: Report

The national capital breathed clean air for 128 days of the first half of 2024, according to a Delhi government report. The report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) said that the "Good days' (good/satisfactory/moderate days together) during the January-July, 2024, period was 128. The number of 'good days' from August 1 to August 20 was 20, it said. The number of 'good days' referring to air quality, increased from 159 in 2018 to 206 in' 2023, it said. An air quality index (AQI) between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The identified sources of air pollution are vehicular and industrial emissions, open burning and other combustion sources. The report cited various steps taken by the Delhi government to mitigate air pollution in the city. A total of 385 dedicated enforcement teams of the Transport Department and Traffic Police have been formed to

Wildfires growing under climate change, smoke threatens farmworkers: Study

As wildfires scorched swaths of land in the wine country of Sonoma County in 2020, sending ash flying and choking the air with smoke, Maria Salinas harvested grapes. Her saliva turned black from inhaling the toxins, until one day she had so much trouble breathing she was rushed to the emergency room. When she felt better, she went right back to work as the fires raged on. What forces us to work is necessity, Salinas said. We always expose ourselves to danger out of necessity, whether by fire or disaster, when the weather changes, when it's hot or cold. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires around the world, a new study shows that farmworkers are paying a heavy price by being exposed to high levels of air pollution. And in Sonoma County, the focus of the work, researchers found that a program aimed at determining when it was safe to work during wildfires did not adequately protect farmworkers. They recommended a series of steps to safeguard the worker

CAQM issues advisory to curb open waste burning, cites poor GRAP compliance

The Centre's air quality panel has issued a new advisory to curb the open burning of municipal solid waste and biomass, including wood, dried leaves and other organic matter, in Delhi, stating that despite previous advisories, compliance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-II has been "far from satisfactory". In a bid to address the worsening air quality in Delhi during the winter months, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas issued an advisory and directed the additional chief secretary of the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner to ensure that resident welfare associations (RWAs) provide electric heaters to their security staff and other service workers. This measure is intended to prevent them from resorting to open burning of biomass for warmth, which is a common practice during the winter months. The commission highlighted that despite previous advisories, ...

Congress slams govt over rapidly deteriorating air quality across nation

The Congress on Thursday slammed the Centre over the issue of "deteriorating air quality", alleging that this government denies there is a real problem, underfunds programmes targeted at mitigating pollution and fails to utilise the resources that it allocates. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that among the lesser-known tragedies of "the non-biological PM's reign is the rapidly deteriorating air quality nationally" and the policy chaos that has characterised the government's response to it. In the last five years, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has left more than 75 percent of the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds unspent, the former environment minister said on X. In total, Rs 665.75 crores have been left unutilised, he claimed. "Earlier this week in the Rajya Sabha, a Union Minister of State claimed that 'There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlat

Air pollution-related terminologies awareness low among urban poor: Study

Awareness about air pollution-related terminologies such as air quality index and particulate matter is "significantly" low among the urban poor in Delhi-NCR, according to a survey. The study conducted from December 2023 to January 2024 covered 500 people in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram. For the survey, they were divided into two groups -- residents of informal settlements and slums, and formal middle-class settlements. "Awareness of air pollution-related terminology was significantly lower among the urban poor. Only 10 per cent of people were aware of air pollution terms like AQI (air quality index) and PM 2.5, while 71 per cent of middle-class settlements were aware," the survey "Saaf Saans" conducted by NGO Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group said. PM 2.5 levels are fine particles that have a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers, more than 100 times thinner than a human hair and remain suspended in the air fo

AQI: Delhi world's most polluted capital, Begusarai most polluted city

India has slipped in the world air quality index to be the third most polluted country, ranking just behind Bangladesh and Pakistan with average PM2.5 levels at 54.4 micrograms, up from 53.3 last year

Delhi logs best air quality for Feb in 9 years, AQI below 200 on most days

The data also showed that the national capital did not see a single day with an AQI above 400 in February. An AQI of above 400 marks the 'severe' category

Rare triple-dip La Nina behind unusual AQ trend in India in 2022-23: Study

An unprecedented triple-dip La-Nina event, extended by climate change, triggered a peculiar trend in the 2022-23 winter season where air quality improved in north India while peninsular India recorded an increase in pollution levels, according to a new study released on Sunday. The three consecutive years of La Nia conditions (2020-23) - a rare triple-dip phenomenon - had widespread impacts on the ocean and climate across the globe. The study by a team of scientists led by Gufran Beig, Chair Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, emphasised that besides local emissions, rapidly changing climate is a significant factor affecting air quality. Published in the Elsevier Journal, the study reveals that the air quality worsened in peninsular Indian cities in the 2022-23 winter season but improved in the northern part of India, contrary to the trends seen in recent decades. Among the north Indian cities, Ghaziabad registered the most significant improvement with a reduction of

Delhi's air quality improves from 'poor' to 'moderate', AQI at 180

Delhi's air quality on Monday improved from "poor" to "moderate" and the maximum temperature settled at 21 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. The 24-hour air quality index (AQI) read 180. On Sunday, the AQI was recorded at 282, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The 24-hour AQI on Saturday was 193. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The humidity levels fluctuated between 98 per cent and 61 per cent during the day, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It has forecast mainly clear sky for Tuesday with moderate fog in the morning, while the minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to settle at around 9 and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively. February has seen four days of rainfall while last year, there was no rainfall recorded in this month. The capital received 29.9 mm rainfall in

Delhi fog dilemma: Anticipating clear skies, when will capital get relief?

Delhi fog: According to IMD, the fog has intensified in the capital due to the western disturbances

Delhi's AQI to turn 'severe', Centre holds off implementing stricter curbs

The Centre on Monday refrained from implementing stricter measures to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR, even though air quality in the region is predicted to turn 'severe' on January 30. This is the third time since January 24 that the central government has decided against employing disruptive measures to control air pollution. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 356 at 4 pm on Monday. It is likely to deteriorate to the 'severe' category (AQI above 400) on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. If the AQI breaches the 400-mark, authorities in Delhi-NCR are required to invoke stricter curbs under Stage III of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control air pollution.

Centre holds off stricter curbson pollution as Delhi AQI crosses 400-mark

Amid worsening air quality, the Centre on Wednesday decided to hold off the implementation of stricter measures to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR as forecasts suggested that the situation may improve. Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Wednesday breached the 400 mark, a level requiring authorities to invoke stricter curbs under Stage 3 of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). "CAQM Sub-Committee for operationalisation of GRAP met today and took stock of the air quality situation, and meteorological forecast and the projected air quality index by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology," a statement said. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) forecasts suggesting an improvement in the air quality, the Sub-Committee unanimously decided to watch the situation for a day or more, before invoking Stage 3 of GRAP. The .

Slight relief from freezing temps in Delhi; 18 trains delayed amid fog

Delhi air quality remains "very poor"; however, there is some improvement in parts of city

Delhi air quality 'very poor'; travel disruptions continue amid cold wave

Foggy mornings, cold days, and cold wave conditions were expected to persist across the plains for at least the next two days

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Delhi weather: Minimum temperature dips to 5.6 degrees, AQI 'very poor'

Delhi weather updates: Due to the fog cover, the visibility levels in the IGI airport area were reduced to zero on Friday morning

Delhi lags in meeting clean air targets; 24 trains delayed amid dense fog

India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the temperatures to begin rising today onwards

Cold weather sweeps Delhi as city minimum temperature falls to 5.3 degrees

Delhi cold wave: India Meteorological Department predicts temperatures in Delhi to be 7 degrees C-15 degrees C, 'yellow alert' has been issued for parts of the city