NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 164 at 7am on Monday, placing the national capital in the ‘moderate’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), indicating a marginal improvement in air quality.Data from monitoring stations showed that 55 of the 60 air quality monitoring stations across the capital were reporting, with PM2.5 identified as the lead pollutant at 30 stations, news agency ANI reported.Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI at 246, followed by Vivek Vihar at 235, CRRI Mathura Road at 231, Punjabi Bagh at 225 and R K Puram at 223. All five stations were in the ‘poor’ category.PM2.5 was the lead pollutant at Jahangirpuri, Vivek Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and R K Puram, while PM10 was the lead pollutant at CRRI Mathura Road.Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR continued to face pollution concerns, with toxic white foam reappearing on the Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj and the region’s overall AQI reaching 168 on Sunday.PM2.5 and PM10 remained the dominant pollutants. Monitoring stations across the city recorded varying readings, ranging from around 110 at PGDAV College in Sriniwaspuri to between 118 and over 180 at several other locations, ANI reported.The deterioration in air quality had prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on October 21.Under GRAP-1, the use of coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries is banned, while the use of diesel generators is restricted to essential or emergency purposes.Visuals from Kalindi Kunj showed large stretches of white foam floating on the Yamuna’s surface, highlighting the continuing pollution challenges affecting the river, ANI reported.The resurgence of foam comes days after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta praised the government’s efforts to revive the Yamuna, describing the inauguration of mega infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 9,000 crore as a “joyful day” for city residents.(With agency inputs)
