New Delhi, October 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191 on Saturday, marking its best air quality for October 24 in a decade, excluding the COVID-19 period, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
Sirsa described the improvement as a significant milestone in the Delhi government’s efforts to combat air pollution. According to him, the AQI on October 24 stood at 306 in 2024, 275 in 2025 and 191 in 2026.
He attributed the improvement to sustained pollution-control measures, stricter enforcement and coordinated action by government agencies to tackle major sources of pollution across the national capital.
Under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership, the Delhi government has adopted a comprehensive approach to pollution control, combining on-ground enforcement, regular inspections, district-level reviews and technology-enabled monitoring, Sirsa said.
He added that the focus remained on controlling pollution at its source and ensuring that mitigation measures were effectively implemented.
Describing the improvement as an encouraging outcome, Sirsa acknowledged the efforts of government officials, field personnel and residents in supporting the campaign for cleaner air.
He thanked Delhi residents for their cooperation and said the government would continue strengthening its measures to sustain and further improve air quality.
The minister emphasised that pollution control remained a priority and that all concerned departments and agencies had been directed to maintain strict vigilance and take prompt action against violations.
He said the campaign would continue in “war mode”, with an emphasis on accountability, effective enforcement and public participation.
As part of the intensified anti-pollution drive, the Delhi government and other agencies carried out extensive enforcement and mitigation activities over the preceding 24 hours.
The measures included issuing 9,883 vehicle challans to curb vehicular pollution, removing 12,702 metric tonnes of waste from identified areas and lifting 2,223 metric tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste.
Authorities also covered 1,075 kilometres of roads through water sprinkling to control dust and carried out mechanical sweeping across 2,810 kilometres of roads.
The government said these interventions formed part of its ongoing efforts to tackle pollution from vehicles, road dust, waste and construction activities.
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