Is Delhi's air quality better than reality? Survey reveals truth
A new survey suggests Delhi's official air quality readings could be giving us a rosier picture than reality.
Water sprinkling near monitoring stations and placing sensors in green, less-polluted areas may be making pollution levels look lower than they actually are.
Hazardous air in Naraina Village
Community monitors in places like Naraina Village caught short bursts of "hazardous" air—AQI over 1000—while nearby official stations reported much cleaner readings.
Experts warn this gap could mislead both the public and policymakers, slowing down action when it's needed most.
Experts warn of slow action impact
Officials say water sprinkling helps control dust, but experts point out it only hides pollution for a bit and can even make things worse by changing humidity.
Getting honest AQI numbers is crucial if we want to protect people's health and push for real solutions to Delhi's ongoing smog problem.