NEW DELHI: Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 349 on Wednesday, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Sameer app, as dense layer of toxic smog continued to blanket large parts of the national capital, including areas around India Gate. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed widespread pollution hotspots across the city. Mundka recorded an AQI of 385, followed by Okhla at 382, RK Puram at 376, Punjabi Bagh at 373, and Wazirpur at 372 — all categorised as very poor. The readings indicated a slight improvement from Tuesday morning, when Delhi’s AQI had touched 414, falling in the ‘severe’ category. However, air quality remained worse than Sunday evening’s AQI of 377, underlining a sharp deterioration over the last 48 hours.According to news agency PTI, several trains are running behind schedule due to dense fog in the region, causing inconvenience to passengers. A few flights have also been delayed due to foggy conditions. Meanwhile, Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy would continue in the national capital even after GRAP-IV restrictions are lifted, as part of sustained efforts to curb vehicular pollution. Addressing a press conference, Sirsa said enforcement had been tightened against errant pollution testing centres. “Under our ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ drive, we identified 12 Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) centres involved in irregularities. They have been suspended and will be blacklisted,” he said. To check industrial emissions, Sirsa added that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued 411 closure notices, while the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has sealed 400 polluting units so far.
