Delhi Achieves Cleaner Air: 128 Good Days in the First Half of 2024

The Delhi government report reveals significant improvement in air quality with 128 'good days' in the first half of 2024. Efforts include enforcing vehicular pollution checks, introducing electric buses, and preventing open biomass burning. The city's air quality has been on an upward trend since 2018.

The national capital has experienced a notable improvement in air quality, enjoying clean air for 128 days during the first half of 2024, according to a report by the Delhi government.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) report highlighted that the number of 'Good days'—days with good, satisfactory, or moderate air quality—reached 128 from January to July 2024. Additionally, from August 1 to August 20, there were 20 such days.

Since 2018, the annual count of 'good days' has risen from 159 to 206 in 2023. An air quality index (AQI) between 0 and 50 is deemed 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'.

Identified pollution sources include vehicular and industrial emissions and open burning. Various measures have been implemented by the Delhi government to combat air pollution. For instance, 385 enforcement teams checked vehicular pollution, impounding 308 over-age vehicles by mid-July 2024. Plans are in place to introduce 3,267 electric buses within the current financial year, and 14.53% of vehicles registered are now electric. Efforts to curb biomass burning involved 338 patrolling teams, over 65,000 inspections, 550 challans, and Rs 6.85 lakh in fines.

(With inputs from agencies.)