by Delhi’s air quality improved to its best level in 11 months on Sunday, as a heavy spell of overnight rain and traffic congestion due to G20-related sanctions combined to give the nation’s capital unusually low pollution levels.
The Capital’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 45 at 4pm on Sunday, the first day of “good” air in the city this year. Pollution levels on Sunday were the lowest since October 10 last year, when Delhi clocked an AQI of just 44.
Delhi also received 38.6mm of rain in the 24 hours till 8.30am on Sunday, another 1.3mm till 5.30pm.
Sunday’s air quality improved from 54 the day before, which was the lowest for the year. The AQI was 83 on Friday and 104 on Thursday.
The Central Pollution Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI of 50 or less as ‘good’, between 51 and 100 as ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate’, between 201 and with 300 as ‘bad’, between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’ and above 400 as ‘difficult’.
The highly civilized atmosphere coincided with the G20 Summit, during which traffic was restricted and public spaces were closed in the central Delhi region.
Officials said the cleaning drives and sprinklers used regularly at the global event helped clean up Delhi’s polluted air. Last year, at that time, Delhi’s AQI was 141 on September 9 and 110—both in the medium range—the next day.
The strong winds that accompanied the rain also helped remove the air pollution, officials and experts said.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) said that the improvement in air quality is due to a combination of different factors including meteorological conditions and reducing emissions on account of the G20 curbs.
“There were many restrictions due to the G20 summit, including the closure of offices and institutions, and a very low volume of traffic. Efforts such as cleaning were also taken to contain the pollution. Moreover, we saw heavy rain on Saturday. All these factors together played a role in eliminating the good air,” said Roychowdhury. .
On Sunday, the Safdarjung observatory, Delhi’s weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 28.3°C, five degrees below normal.
The minimum temperature, meanwhile, was 23.5°C, two degrees below normal.
According to CPCB data, 2022 saw three good wind days throughout the year. In 2021, Delhi closed for just one day. In 2020, however, when the city was under the Covid-19 curbs for most of the year, Delhi closed five “good” air days.
Other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also recorded better air quality as the AQI was 34 in the ‘good’ category in Ghaziabad, 70 in Gurugram, 51 in Greater Noida, 62 in Faridabad, and 32 in Noida.
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