Delhi witnesses maximum number of days with ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ AQI during the first quarter of current year – EQ Mag
‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ Air Quality Days in Delhi increase from 13 in 2021 to 27 in 2022 and 35 days in 2023
Delhi experiences least number of days with ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ AQI during the first quarter of 2023
‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ Air Quality Days decline significantly during the respective years from 77 in 2021 to 63 in 2022 and 55 in 2023
As per Air Quality Index (AQI) of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi has witnessed the maximum number of days with ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ AQI in first quarter of 2023 (i.e. 90 days from 01.01.2023 to 31.03.2023), as compared to the corresponding period of last 06 years since 2017 (barring the periods of very low anthropogenic, industrial and commercial activities during the Covid-19 lockdown year 2020).
A comparative tabulation for ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ AQI witnessed for the first quarter period of the 07 years (2017-2023) is depicted in the chart below:
The number of ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ Air Quality Days for the first quarter (01st January to 31st March) in 2017 were 17; in 2018 were 24; in 2019 were 32; in 2020 were 38; in 2021 were 13; in 2022 were 27; and in 2023 are 35.
During the first quarter of current year (01.01.2023 – 31.03.2023), Delhi has also experienced the least number of days with ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ AQI, as compared to the corresponding period of last 06 years (except 2020 – year of Covid lockdown). The number of ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ Air Days for the first quarter in 2017 were 73; in 2018 were 66; in 2019 were 58; in 2020 were 52; in 2021 were 77; in 2022 were 63; and in 2023 are 55. The number of ‘Poor to Severe Air Days’ in Delhi is generally showing a declining trend and have come down by 24.65% i.e. from 73 in 2017 to 55 in 2023.
Persistent coordinated field-level efforts by various stakeholders and implementing agencies and targeted initiatives in the short/ medium/ long term are expected to see a gradual but marked improvement in air quality.
