9 of 37 Air Monitors Worked During Diwali in Delhi, SC Told; Directs CAQM to Submit Report on Deteriorating Air Quality in Capital

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to submit a status report on the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, which has plunged into the “very poor” category

following Diwali celebrations.A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the order after being informed that most of the city’s air quality monitoring stations were non-functional during Diwali.“There needs to be a report from CAQM on the current air pollution status. Out of 37 in Delhi, only 9 monitoring systems were functioning during Diwali,” submitted Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, who serves as amicus curiae in the matter, reports Bar and Bench. The Bench directed the CAQM to file a detailed report on the current pollution levels and the functioning of monitoring stations across the national capital.The directive comes amid allegations that the Delhi government deployed water-spraying tankers near monitoring stations to manipulate Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. Media reports claimed that several monitoring systems were shut or partially operational during the festival period.On Monday morning, a thick grey haze blanketed Delhi as the city’s overall AQI stood at 316, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Twenty-eight monitoring stations reported “very poor” air quality with readings above 300, reports PTI.

An AQI between 301 and 400 is classified as “very poor,” and above 400 as “severe.” Levels in several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) — including Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Noida, and Greater Noida — also remained in the “very poor” range.The CPCB reported that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations reached 189.6 micrograms per cubic metre, while PM10 stood at 316. Such levels can cause breathing discomfort, particularly among children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung conditions.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the minimum temperature settled at 17.9 degrees Celsius, slightly above normal, with humidity at 64 per cent. Weak northwesterly winds have trapped pollutants near the surface, worsening visibility and prolonging poor air conditions.The air quality is likely to remain “very poor” until at least November 4, the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) predicted.