Delhi’s Air Quality Index shows marginal improvement but stays in the ‘Poor’ zone (AQI 201-300). Focus shifts to the Supreme Court hearing on December 3 on the air health emergency and the citizen protest demanding urgent action. Details on the long-term solutions and GRAP-2 rules that remain in force.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index
In a city that has spent nearly a month grappling with dangerously high pollution levels, Delhiites awoke to a minor, though temporary, reprieve: the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) has registered a dip, moving out of the severely hazardous ‘Very Poor’ category (301-400) and settling into the ‘Poor’ zone (201-300). While this slight reduction in the toxic air blanket offers momentary relief, the CPCB Data confirms that the crisis is far from over. This marginal improvement sets the stage for a critical week focused on accountability, with both the nation’s highest judicial body and frustrated citizens demanding urgent, structural action.
The immediate focus is now squarely on the Supreme Court hearing on December 3, where the bench has agreed to review the worsening Delhi Health Emergency. A court-appointed lawyer assisting the bench highlighted the gravity of the situation, terming the capital’s air quality an “alarming situation” and a “health emergency.” The judiciary, while acknowledging the challenge, has stressed that it does not possess a “magic wand” and has instead appealed for Long-Term Pollution Solutions identified by domain experts. This upcoming hearing is expected to press the Central and State governments for definitive, enforceable plans beyond the reactive measures implemented under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
