Delhi's Air Quality Sees Slight Improvement, But Stays in 'Poor' Category Ahead of Protests
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Delhi breathed a slightly cleaner air on Sunday, with the city's average Air Quality Index (AQI) dipping to 268 at 9 am. Although this is a noticeable improvement from Saturday's reading of 305, the city still falls under the 'poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The slight respite comes after 24 days of consistently poor air quality, which is the second-longest stretch since 2019. Despite the improvement, several areas in the capital continued to record 'very poor' AQI levels, including Shadipur (331), RK Puram (303), and Jahangirpuri (323). The CPCB classifies air quality as follows: 'good' (0-50), 'satisfactory' (51-100), 'moderate' (101-200), 'poor' (201-300), 'very poor' (301-400), and 'severe' (401-500). As the city struggles to breathe, civil society groups have announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on December 3, urging citizens to demand clean air. The protest is part of a growing movement, with several groups, including My Right to Breathe and Warrior Moms, joining the cause. The struggle for clean air is not new to Delhi, with citizens having protested earlier this month at India Gate. However, the November 30 protest turned chaotic when some participants allegedly used chilli spray on police personnel. The upcoming protest on December 3 aims to bring attention to the city's worsening air quality and its impact on public health. As the city continues to grapple with the issue, citizens are being urged to join the peaceful demonstration and demand clean, breathable air.
