Dec 3, 2025: AQI near L-G house far worse than official data

For today’s AQI, Newslaundry visited Raj Niwas, the official residence and office of Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (L-G), VK Saxena, located in the Civil Lines area of North Delhi. 

The nearest air quality monitoring station, located at Burari Crossing and operated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), showed an AQI reading of 266, which falls in the ‘poor’ category. However, when we deployed our portable air quality monitor, the AQI recorded was 372, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category.   

As Delhi’s residents wheeze their way through a toxic gas chamber, L-G Saxena has found neither the time nor opportunity to either criticise or offer sage ‘advice’ to the government that is struggling to deal with the issue. Instead, late last month, he found the perfect moment to launch hot air balloon rides. Ironically, even the air outside his own residence is too polluted to ignore.

Watch. 

This show is part of a collaborative campaign to tackle air pollution. Here’s how you can join the Fight To Breathe. Click here to power this campaign.