Delhi's air quality index 164 and 'moderate' on Monday, Jahangirpuri worst at 246

Delhi's air got slightly better on Monday morning. Data from India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) put the city's air quality index (AQI) at 164, in the 'moderate' category, a marginal improvement on Sunday's overall figure of 168.

Wide variation across the city

Fifty-five of the city's 60 monitoring stations were reporting, with PM2.5 the lead pollutant at 30 of them. Readings varied widely: around 110 at PGDAV College, Sriniwaspuri, while five stations were still rated 'poor'.

Jahangirpuri was highest at 246, followed by Vivek Vihar at 235, CRRI Mathura Road at 231, Punjabi Bagh at 225 and R K Puram at 223. PM10 was the lead pollutant at CRRI Mathura Road and PM2.5 at the other four.

Toxic foam returns to the Yamuna

At the same time, thick white toxic foam reappeared on the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj, a reminder that environmental pressure across Delhi and the National Capital Region has not lifted.

Stage 1 response still in force

The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan across Delhi-NCR on October 21: coal and firewood are banned in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries, and diesel generator use is restricted to essential or emergency purposes.