17 November,2025 10:56 AM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Anti smog vehicle sprays water mist to settle down particulate matter as other vehicles ply the road in New Delhi. Pic/PTI
The condition in the national capital does not seem to have improved since the last few days, as far as the air quality is concerned. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi-NCR continued to remain in the 'very poor' to 'severe' range on Monday as well. As reported by the news agency IANS, a thick layer of smog covered the national capital on a chilly Monday morning.
At 6.00 am, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 360. However, the nearby six monitoring stations of New Delhi reported AQIs of over 400, placing them in the 'severe' range.
As reported by IANS, Alipur recorded an AQI of 386, Anand Vihar 384, Ashok Vihar 392, Chandni Chowk 383, ITO 394, Lodhi Road 337, Mundka 396, Nehru Nagar 389, and Sirifort recorded 368.
Meanwhile, the air quality in other areas experienced even worse air quality, with Bawana (427), DTU (403), Jahangirpuri (407), Narela (406), Rohini (404), and Wazirpur (401) ranking them in the 'severe' AQI category.
Additionally, the Supreme Court is set to resume hearing on Monday the public interest litigation (PIL) concerning alarming air pollution levels in the national capital and the adjoining areas.
The hearing assumes significance as stubble burning and stagnant weather conditions continue to push Delhi's air quality into the 'severe' category, reported IANS.
As per the cause list uploaded on the Apex Court's website, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria will take up the matter for further hearing on November 17, which will decide the future of Delhi and hazardous air quality.
In the previous hearing on November 12, the CJI Gavai-led Bench had expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality despite enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and had directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to file detailed affidavits outlining the steps taken to curb stubble burning.
The top court in New Delhi also took note of submissions highlighting that AQI crossed 450 at several locations in Delhi-NCR.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan had pointed out that even routine construction activities, including drilling work outside the Supreme Court's own premises, were continuing despite hazardous conditions.
The CJI Gavai-led Bench, which has been monitoring the issue closely, had earlier called for a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and had even asked the Centre to consider strict penalties, including arrests, to deter farmers from burning crop residue.
(With inputs from IANS)
