Delhi's Air Quality Improves Slightly Amid Ongoing Pollution Crisis
Authorities plan further measures as farm fires continue and plans for rain induction are delayed due to weather conditions.
- Delhi's air quality index (AQI) improved slightly from 'severe' to 'very poor', with an overall AQI of 340 on November 18, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data.
- The National Green Tribunal directed central and Delhi authorities to take 'stringent measures' to improve the AQI in Delhi-NCR, after observing no 'visible improvement' in the city's air quality.
- Despite a court-ordered ban, farm fires continue to rage in nearby fields, contributing to the worsening air quality in Delhi.
- Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that authorities are trying to enforce laws in a better way and that a meeting would be held to discuss further measures.
- A plan to induce rain via cloud seeding to battle the smog has been pushed back due to unfavourable weather.