Air pollution continues to pose a serious challenge in Delhi ahead of Diwali, with the city's air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category for the third consecutive day. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 369. Pollution levels have also remained high across several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), raising concerns among residents. With no immediate improvement expected, the situation could become more challenging in the coming days as Diwali approaches.

Delhi-NCR Cities Struggle With Rising Pollution
Air quality across Delhi-NCR continues to remain a major concern. According to CPCB data, Faridabad recorded an AQI of 125, placing it in the 'moderate' category. Ghaziabad registered 229, while Greater Noida recorded 246, both falling under the 'poor' category. Gurugram's AQI stood at 321, while Noida recorded 305, placing both cities in the 'very poor' category. The pollution outlook for the next five days suggests that air quality across the region could remain between the 'very poor' and 'severe' categories.

GRAP Stage II Restrictions Implemented Across NCR
In response to deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on November 2. The decision came after the measures under Stage I failed to bring the expected improvement. The commission directed concerned authorities to implement Stage II restrictions along with the existing Stage I measures. These steps are aimed at controlling pollution and preventing further deterioration of air quality across the region.

Stubble Burning and Vehicle Emissions Add to Pollution
According to the Decision Support System (DSS), stubble burning contributed 15.3 per cent to Delhi's pollution, while transport emissions accounted for 15.8 per cent. Other contributing sources included residential activities at 3.9 per cent, industries at 3 per cent, construction at 2.2 per cent, waste burning at 1.4 per cent and road dust at 1.2 per cent. Satellite data also detected 219 farm fire incidents across six states on November 2. Of these, 98 were reported in Punjab, 67 in Rajasthan, 48 in Madhya Pradesh, four in Uttar Pradesh and two in Haryana. With multiple pollution sources contributing to the worsening situation, Delhi-NCR residents may continue to face poor air quality ahead of Diwali.