Significant pollution drop has been recorded on the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) due to freak weather pattern in the Capital. And the concentration of primary pollutants in city air was observed very low on Tuesday.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), value of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 in Mandir Marg area was 11 µg/m3 - five times lower than its prescribed standards (60 µg/m3).
Though the data of all pollution indexes is still showing discrepancies, but this is the first time when values of PMs are same on the pollution indexes of CPCB and DPCC, particularly values of pollutants in Mandir Marg area.
Indian Metrological Department (IMD) Scientists and environment specialists said weather conditions are immensely favourable to bring down the concentrations of harmful pollutants. “Every year in January, light rainfall occurs whereas this year, weather pattern is different. Despite abnormal temperature, high wind speed is the cause of moderate level of pollutants with pleasant weather,” said IMD official.
Also, other air quality index showed value of primary pollutants less. At 6 pm, the US Embassy has showed PM 2.5 in Dwarka , Punjabi Bagh , Shadipur , Mandir Marg and New Delhi was 133,165,180,117 and 160 (µg/m3) respectively.
Another National Air Quality Index (NAQI) SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), a unit of Ministry of Earth Science also showed that PM levels have been reduced tremendously.
Meanwhile, air quality assessment data collected by mobile data samplers through light scattering techniques on Monday by the DPCC also recorded less value of PMs (2.5,10) in seventeen different locations of the city. In two different locations of Wazirpur area, PM 2.5 was recorded 91 and 99 while in Model Town areas it was observed 133 and 101.