Noida saw a welcome change in air quality on February 21 as gusty winds swept through the National Capital Region (NCR), significantly improving the Air Quality Index (AQI). Residents in Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad are breathing easier after days of hazardous smog blanketing the region.
Despite the progress, most areas remain in the ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ range. In Ghaziabad, UPPCB stations reported Indirapuram at 232, Loni at 268, Sanjay Nagar at 181, and Vasundhara at 233. Loni edged closest to ‘poor’ levels, while Sanjay Nagar offered relative respite.
Noida’s Sector-125 clocked 199, Sector-62 at 164, Sector-1 at 213, and Sector-116 at 194. Sector-62 stayed firmly moderate, but Sector-1 flirted with poor territory. Delhi’s monitoring stations echoed the trend: Alipur 189, Anand Vihar 244, Ashok Vihar 224, Aya Nagar 138, Bawana 219, Burari Crossing 195, Chandni Chowk 246, CRRI Mathura Road 161, Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range 211, and DTU 189.
Chandni Chowk and Anand Vihar topped the pollution charts, while Aya Nagar emerged as the cleanest spot. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a high of 29°C and low of 13°C on February 21, with similar conditions expected on February 22. February 23 may see a slight rise to 30°C high and 14°C low, accompanied by light haze but no weather alerts.
Experts attribute the AQI dip to wind dispersal of pollutants. Days ahead promise chilly mornings and evenings with bright sunshine midday. However, any slowdown in winds could reverse gains, underscoring the fragility of this relief in India’s pollution-prone capital.