Delhi Government Forms Expert Group, High-Level Panel to Tackle Worsening Air Pollution

The Delhi government has set up a new expert group dedicated to combating air pollution in the National Capital, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Saturday, December 6. The panel will propose measures for the prevention, control, abatement and mitigation of pollution across the city.

Calling the group a “much-needed think tank,” Sirsa said it comprises leading domain experts who will act as “a friend, philosopher and guide” to the government in its fight against toxic air.

Alongside the expert panel, the government has also constituted a High-Level Implementation Committee for the Control of Air Pollution, headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. According to Sirsa, the committee will be responsible for “time-bound execution, strict monitoring and effective implementation” of directives and action plans issued by the Delhi government, courts and statutory bodies.

He added that both bodies will work closely, with the expert group serving as the “brain” and the implementation committee acting as the “arm” of Delhi’s collective efforts. “I firmly believe that with the concerted efforts of the Government and the people of Delhi, we will, God willing, soon prevail in this war against pollution,” Sirsa wrote.

Pollution and Weather Update

Delhi witnessed a slight rise in its minimum temperature on Saturday as a western disturbance began influencing the region, even as air quality continued to worsen. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 6.8°C — still three degrees below normal — following Friday’s season-low of 5.6°C.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said temperatures are expected to increase gradually over the next few days, with partly cloudy skies and wind speeds of 15–20 km/h on Saturday. The minimum temperature is forecast to sit between 8°C and 10°C on Sunday and Monday.

Stronger winds are expected to help disperse pollutants, offering some relief from the smog. However, at 10 am Saturday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 334 — firmly in the “very poor” category — slightly up from 327 recorded at 4 pm on Friday.