Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar air quality index (AQI), which slipped into the ‘poor’ category in Nov and Dec last year, with PM2.5 levels touching 207 and 297 respectively, from ‘moderate’ in Jan and Feb and ‘satisfactory’ in March to July 2025, improved again to moderate in Jan-Feb this year, revealed an assembly reply by forest and environment minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia on Tuesday.Responding to a question by Sonepur MLA Niranjan Pujari, who wanted a response from the minister regarding the air quality of Bhubaneswar and whether it was worse than Delhi (NCR), the minister said: “No. In February, AQI remained between 101 and 200, which is considered moderate. This index will improve from March to Oct, as it usually happens. Between Nov and Feb, the quality remains around poor and moderate categories.”Regarding a comparison of annual average AQI with Delhi, the reply revealed that Bhubaneswar’s average per annum AQI was far better than that of Delhi, at 88 and 223 respectively.Measures such as increasing the frequency of water sprinkling, mist spraying, banning open burning of garbage, and hotels minimising the use of coal-based ‘chullahs’ helped bring down the AQI to a healthy level, said Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) officials.“The measures started showing a positive outcome from the middle of Jan. With winter impact decreasing now, there is not much dust suspended in ambient air. The ambient air pollution reduced significantly,” said OSPCB senior environment scientist Niranjan Mallick.When the AQI remained between 200 and 300, the capital’s sky looked foggy and, without a mask, inhaling caused a jerking cough in some people. This phenomenon is not there now. Now the sky looks clear and the ambient air is breathable, he added.Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) also issued instructions to minimise construction work considerably, and most construction and demolition waste piled up on roadsides was removed.