Delhi's Air Quality in Jan-April 2023 cleanest in 7 years: CAQM Data
The data, sourced from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), reveals that the city saw 52 days of 'good to moderate' air quality from January to April this year.
New Delhi, May 01: According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Delhi experienced its cleanest air quality in the first four months of 2023 compared to the same period over the past seven years, excluding 2020 which saw Covid-induced lockdowns.
The data, sourced from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), reveals that the city saw 52 days of 'good to moderate' air quality from January to April this year. In comparison, the number of 'good to moderate' air quality days during the same period in the past seven years were 27 in 2022, 31 in 2021, 68 in 2020, 44 in 2019, 32 in 2018, 29 in 2017, and 8 in 2016.
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To contextualise, the air quality index (AQI) measures the level of air pollution in a given area, with a reading between zero and 50 considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Additionally, Delhi has also experienced the fewest days with 'poor to severe' air quality during January to April 2023, excluding 2020, in comparison to the corresponding period in the past seven years.
The CAQM attributes the improved air quality to "persistent field-level efforts and targeted policy initiatives in the short/medium/long term," adding that gradual but marked improvements in air quality are expected. The organisation has been integral in the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to monitor air quality and take measures based on air quality forecasts. Better coordination with neighboring areas to find solutions to air pollution has also been prioritised.
Overall, the data presents a positive outlook for Delhi's air quality, suggesting that efforts to improve air quality are beginning to bear fruit. The continued implementation of measures and policies to address air pollution will be crucial in maintaining this positive trend.
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