Is Delhi’s AQI Improvement a Sign of Lasting Change?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi’s AQI is currently at 76, indicating satisfactory air quality.
- Systematic measures are in place to improve air and waste management.
- 54 buildings have installed anti-smog guns to combat dust.
- Significant amounts of waste have been cleared from various sites.
- The government is committed to sustainable urban development.
New Delhi, June 27 (NationPress) Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated on Friday that the government’s proactive measures in air quality and waste management have led to an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 76, placing it firmly in the ‘Satisfactory’ category.
“This signifies the fifth day out of the last seven (21-27 June) that the capital has achieved clean air, supported by continuous enforcement and action,” he noted.
Sirsa emphasized that this improvement is a result of systematic, on-ground efforts across various departments — from landfill-level bio-mining to rigorous vehicle inspections and daily dust control measures.
“These efforts are not isolated — they form part of a unified initiative: improving Delhi’s air, land, and roads. Every challenge, from waste to dust to emissions, is being addressed with direct action, scientific tools, and inter-agency collaboration,” Sirsa explained.
He mentioned that 54 high-rise buildings have now implemented anti-smog guns after the Delhi government mandated their installation under the Environment Action Plan, facilitating vertical dust management in urban areas.
Key interventions led by the government include: 32,003 MT of legacy waste removed through bio-mining in a single day from Bhalaswa, Okhla, and Ghazipur; 257 end-of-life vehicles seized in the last 24 hours; 40,221 pollution challans issued during the same time frame; and 2,702 km of road length treated using mobile anti-smog guns.
Furthermore, 11,015 MT of waste was cleared from the city; 6,471 km of roads were mechanically cleaned; 1,346 km of roads were watered using 750 KL of STP-treated water; 2,305 MT of construction and demolition debris was cleared; 167 ASGs were deployed at construction sites, and the tender for the Singhola landfill site was completed, allowing full-scale bio-mining at major locations.
“Delhi will not be characterized by landfills or smog. Our aim is zero waste mountains, minimal dust, and cleaner air in every locality — this is governance that acts, not one that waits,” Sirsa concluded.
These measures align with the Viksit Delhi vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, being actively pursued under the dedicated leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, he stated.
With visible results in air quality and solid waste management, Delhi is progressively moving towards a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future, added Sirsa.