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6d ago

Winds Push Delhi’s AQI to ‘Poor’ as CAQM Revokes GRAP-IV Restrictions

Wind-driven dispersion brought a brief respite that forecasters expect to reverse within days.

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In Noida region, between December 14 and December 22, dust suppression formed a key part of the response as pollution control measure (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)
Commuters use face masks to avoid air pollution.
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Overview

  • Delhi’s citywide AQI hovered around 220–234 on Dec 25 after 271 on Dec 24, with several stations turning ‘moderate’ even as hotspots remained ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’.
  • Regulators lifted the most stringent GRAP-IV curbs across NCR and kept Stages I–III in force, citing improved readings and the disruptive nature of the toughest measures.
  • Official forecasts caution that weakening winds and dense fog could drive air quality back to the ‘very poor’ range from Thursday evening through Saturday.
  • IMD and IITM attributed the dip to stronger surface winds of roughly 15–25 kmph, higher mixing heights near 1,200 m and a ventilation index near 9,000 m²/s that is projected to fall sharply.
  • Decision Support System data identified vehicular emissions as the largest PM2.5 source at about 17–18%, as authorities reported intensified enforcement and announced six new monitoring stations, including at JNU and IGNOU.