New Delhi: Air quality improved in the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi in 2022. The year witnessed the lowest ever recorded daily average values for Particulate Matter (PM) 10 and PM2.5 in since 2015 barring Covid affected 2020 when there were very low anthropogenic, industrial and commercial activities in Delhi National Capital Region and adjoining areas, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated here today.
There was also a remarkable reduction in the number of days with “Severe” air quality witnessed during 2022 as compared to all previous years, while no “Severe+” day (AQI > 450) was observed during 2022, the first time since 2019. Delhi’s Air Quality Index around Diwali time of 2022 was the best in the last five years.
Comparative tabulations for various air quality-related parameters for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively follow as under:
Month-wise Daily Avg. AQI for Delhi
The year 2022 witnessed three months (January, February and December) of best ever daily average AQI and 3 months (July, October and November) with second best daily average AQI during the entire period from 2018 to 2022, even taking into account the Covid affected low activity years of 2020 and 2021.
Exceptionally prolonged dry spells during April, May and June in 2022, coupled with the transportation of fine dust and particulate matter not only from the adjoining areas but also transboundary, resulted in poor AQI for these months, which, the Government claimed, was comparatively better for all other months during 2022 vis-à-vis previous years.
The Post -Monsoon and Winter periods, from October in a particular year up till February of the next year, witness episodic events like extensive farm burnings during paddy harvesting season, bursting of crackers during religious festivals and marriages/ other celebrations etc. Coupled with the above, adverse climatic, meteorological, low temperature and calm wind conditions that generally prevail during winters in the entire region impede the effective dispersion of pollutants from the region, resulting in a spike in the daily average AQI in Delhi during the period. The year 2022 in particular, witnessed the best air quality during post-monsoon and winter months owing to continual efforts round the year and concerted drives to prevent and abate air-polluting activities, particularly during these months.
With persistent field-level efforts and targeted policy initiatives for quantified results in the short/ medium/ long term, it is expected that the air quality scenario over Delhi will see further gradual but marked improvement, year on year, the Ministry stated.
– global bihari bureau
