Delhi Chokes as AQI Stays Above 300; Residents Call for Lasting Solutions

Residents of Delhi are urging the government to take decisive action to address the capital’s severe pollution levels, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the second consecutive week following Diwali. On Tuesday morning, heavy smog blanketed parts of the city, with many residents reporting difficulty breathing due to the worsening air quality.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 355 as of 8 a.m., classified as ‘very poor.’ Ashok Vihar registered an AQI of 390, Dwarka Sector 8 at 367, Jahangiripuri at 417, and Anand Vihar saw a severe AQI level of 403.

Varun, a cyclist at Kartavya Path, highlighted that pollution levels spike during this season each year, attributing it largely to stubble burning in nearby states rather than Diwali crackers alone. Another resident, Ankit Sachdeva, voiced frustration, saying, “We pay taxes for these facilities, and yet the government needs to do more to control pollution.”

On Monday, the Supreme Court asserted that the right to a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih questioned authorities’ efforts to enforce the firecracker ban in Delhi, emphasizing that unchecked pollution from firecrackers infringes upon citizens’ right to health and that no religion endorses activities harmful to public health.