Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor'; light rain, haze likely on Tuesday
New Delhi (PTI): The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Monday. A blanket of haze lingered over the city through the morning and afternoon hours, reducing visibility.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 301 at 4 pm.
Data from the CPCB's Sameer app -- a mobile application that provides hourly updates on AQI -- showed that at 6 pm, 22 out of the 38 monitoring stations across the city recorded 'very poor' air quality. Anand Vihar was the most polluted area with an AQI of 395, followed by Wazirpur at 385. However, no station reported a 'severe' level of pollution.
Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in the city settled at 29.5 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees above the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). THe minimum temperature was recorded at 17.3 degrees Celsius, 0.1 degrees above normal.
Humidity levels fluctuated between 94 per cent and 58 per cent during the day.
According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology's Decision Support System for Air Quality Management, transport accounted for 13.7 per cent of the city's pollution, while neighbouring NCR regions such as Ghaziabad contributed 10.6 per cent, Meerut 4.8 per cent, and Delhi's local emissions 3.6 per cent. Other sources contributed nearly 20 per cent to the pollution load.
Satellite data from October 26 showed 122 stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, eight in Haryana, and 186 in Uttar Pradesh.
For Tuesday, the IMD has forecast a generally cloudy sky with mist or haze in the morning and the possibility of one or two spells of very light rain or drizzle. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 29 and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Health experts have urged residents to minimise outdoor exposure during high pollution hours, particularly early mornings and late evenings.
"Winter air becomes denser, trapping pollutants that irritate the respiratory tract and worsen conditions like asthma and allergies," said Dr Hinal Shah, Consultant Biochemist at Agilus Diagnostics. He recommended the use of N95 masks and HEPA air purifiers to reduce health risks.
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Firms being arm-twisted to divert investment from Karnataka: Priyank Kharge
New Delhi (PTI): Companies are being arm-twisted to divert their investments from Karnataka despite the state having the best talent ecosystem, state's IT, biotech and rural development minister Priyank Kharge said on Friday.
The minister said it has taken 40 years to develop the entire ecosystem in the state that suits investors.
"Why is semiconductor going to Gujarat, Assam? That's my question? That's what I have been asking. Why is it going to Gujarat? Why is it going to Assam? When PLI comes, they have to choose their state. The name is Karnataka. How does it become Gujarat by the time the application reaches Delhi? They are coming to my state. Why are they being arm-twisted to Gujarat?" Kharge said.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a roadshow in the national capital for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026 to be held in November.
"They are coming to our state only. They want to invest in our state. It works out for them. It is profitable for them. Our human resource is one of the most agile and best in the world. But yet, they are going to be pushed to Gujarat," Kharge said.
During the event, Kharge said Karnataka is planning to rejig policy on data centres to promote sustainable data centres.
"There is a serious need for states and the central government to bring up policies for sustainable data centres. That's exactly what the government of Karnataka intends to do," Kharge said.
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