What’s AQI? In choking Delhi, 93% residents don’t understand key air quality marker

About 93 per cent of Delhiites do not understand the Air Quality Index and its six categories, a survey of 10 most polluted areas of Delhi revealed on Friday. Conducted by the United Residents Joint Action (URJA), a collective of the city's resident welfare associations and ARK foundation, the survey interacted with 509 residents from Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Dwarka, ITO, Lodhi Road, Patparganj, Rohini, RK Puram, Siri Fort, and Bawana. The respondents-- minimum 50 people each from the 10 localities-- did not know the meaning of AQI and when the air in the national capital is categorised as good, moderate, poor or severe.

The survey showed that 89 per cent of the respondents were not aware about the air pollution monitors installed in their areas. The questionnaire was given across the wards spread in a two-km radius around the identified locations where air quality monitors have been installed.

Eighty-eight per cent of the respondents said that they had not seen any LED screens showing the different levels of air quality, the survey said, adding that 71 per cent of the respondents were not satisfied with the air quality in Delhi.

RELATED

While 58 per cent respondents said that they were affected by pollution, 42 per cent said they were unaffected.

Further, 28 per cent people admitted to facing difficulty in breathing due to poor quality of air and 20 per cent said that they were take extra care of their skin.

Another 16 per cent said they felt depressed due to the blanket of smog enveloping the national capital.

The questionnaire asked the respondents a mix of closed-ended and open-ended questions. On Friday, Delhi's air quality slightly improved with increased wind speed but was recorded in "very poor" category as CPCB-led task force recommended municipal commissioners (MC) and district magistrates (DM) to review ground-level action by their teams on a daily basis and ensure intensified measures.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the city was 394 which falls in the "very poor" category. Lt Governor Anil Baijal Friday reviewed the air pollution situation of Delhi and asked agencies to direct field officers to visit hotspots and heavily penalise instances of burning of waste, polluting units and dust-generating activities.

In view of the spike of pollution level in the national capital, the Central Pollution Control Board-led task force recommended that municipal commissioners and district magistrates review ground-level action by their teams on daily basis and ensure intensified measures.

An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under the 'moderate' category, 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', while that between 401 and 500 is 'severe'. The CPCB said as many as 11 areas recorded "severe" air quality and 18 "very poor" air quality. In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida recorded "severe" air quality, while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded "very poor" air quality, it said.

HIGHLIGHTS

• An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under the 'moderate' category.
• 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor'.
• While that between 401 and 500 is 'severe'.