New Delhi: For the periods between January-May (during the eight years i.e. from 2016 to 2023), Delhi registers its best air quality during the current year (barring the periods of very low anthropogenic, industrial and commercial activities during the year 2020 due to Covid-19 lockdown), an official statement said on Wednesday (May 31). As per Air Quality Index (AQI) data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi has reported its lowest Average AQI during the current year compared to the corresponding period for the last seven years i.e. from 2016 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid).
According to the statement, in terms of daily average PM2.5 concentration levels, 2023 has seen the lowest levels of daily average PM2.5 concentration, as compared to the corresponding period for the last seven years i.e. from 2016 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid).
Moreover, 2023 has been the year with the lowest levels of daily average PM10 concentration in Delhi, as compared to the corresponding period for the last seven years i.e. from 2016 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid).
Also Read: Delhi Had 1,096 Hours Of ‘Good’ Air Quality In 2022
Delhi has witnessed the maximum number of ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ Air Quality Days during the first five months period of 2023, as compared to the corresponding period of the last seven years since 2016 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid), the statement added.
The number of ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’ Air Quality Days for the first five months period (i.e. January to May) was 15 in the year 2016; 36 in 2017; 44 in 2018; 59 in 2019; 98 in 2020; 59 in 2021; 37 in 2022; and 74 in the current year 2023.
During this period, Delhi has also experienced the least number of days with ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ Air Quality in 2023, as compared to the corresponding period of the last seven years since 2016 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid). The number of ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ Air Quality Days for the first five months period (i.e. January to May) have come down by 42.10 per cent i.e. from 133 in the year 2016 to 77 in the current year 2023, the statement said.
Also Read: ‘Good’ Air Quality Days In Delhi Highest During January-April: Report
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
