New Delhi, October 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Saturday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 180, as authorities stepped up efforts to control pollution across the national capital.
Pollution levels have risen following Dussehra celebrations, with smoke and unfavourable weather conditions contributing to deteriorating air quality across Delhi-NCR.
Several monitoring stations reported elevated pollution levels, with Jahangirpuri recording an AQI of 270, Mundka 264, Vivek Vihar 261 and Alipur 254. Punjabi Bagh recorded 247, while R.K. Puram registered 240. Other affected locations included IIT Delhi (221), Burari Crossing (217), Chandni Chowk (211), Pusa (209) and Dwarka Sector 8 (206).
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR earlier this week after the AQI entered the poor category.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has directed officials to prepare targeted action plans for identified pollution hotspots. The plans will focus on pinpointing local pollution sources, assigning responsibilities to the concerned agencies and setting deadlines for corrective measures.
During a review meeting, Sirsa instructed officials to analyse monitoring data to identify major contributors in different areas, including road dust, traffic congestion, construction activities, unauthorised parking and waste burning.
The situation had worsened at several locations on Friday, when Punjabi Bagh recorded an AQI of 302, Pusa 319 and R.K. Puram 307, placing all three in the ‘very poor’ category. Of the 56 monitoring stations reporting data that day, 36 recorded poor air quality, while the remaining stations were in the moderate category.
Government data on listed pollution sources identifies transport as Delhi’s largest contributor, accounting for 20.3 per cent. Residential sources contributed 5.2 per cent, industries 4.2 per cent and construction activities 2.6 per cent. Energy accounted for 2 per cent, waste burning 1.8 per cent, road dust 1.4 per cent and other sources 1.3 per cent.
Stage I of GRAP remains in force, with measures focusing on dust suppression, enforcement of construction and demolition norms, improved waste management and efforts to curb vehicular emissions.
Authorities are seeking to contain pollution levels through hotspot-specific interventions and stricter implementation of existing anti-pollution measures.
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