Delhi: Environment minister claims air quality 'very good' but Anand Vihar 'hazardous', RK Puram 'very unhealthy'

Contrary to Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan's claims that the air quality this year was better than that of last year, with 569 Air Quality Index (AQI), the pollution levels at Delhi's Anand Vihar was marked "Hazardous" whereas the air quality at RK Puram and ITO was rated "Very Unhealthy" with 239 and 251 (AQI) respectively. 

The pollution level in Delhi had been on a constant rise. The recent stubble burning in and around Delhi had added to this degrading quality of air.

However, Vardhan said that the air quality in Delhi has been very good this year. 

"Last year we had smog for almost 3, 4 days. Nobody was able to breathe in Delhi but this year the early morning after Diwali everyone could breathe comfortably,'' he added. 

"we are on the right path,'' the minister said and added that good days have improved. Satisfactory days have doubled, moderate days improved by almost 22 per cent, he said. 
 

There was no health affliction in terms of development of lung disease and others, he added. 

Supreme Court recently banned sale of firecrackers to regulate the pollution caused by crackers during Diwali this year.