As Delhi is reeling under ‘severe’ air pollution, Anand Vihar, Mandir Marg and Civil lines are the most polluted zones due to mass concentration of particulate matter (PM) in the air.
The prescribed standards of PM (10) and PM (2.5) are 100 µg/m3 and 60 µg/m3, however, at Anand Vihar area, PM (10) was recorded five times higher than the prescribed standards set by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) while PM 2.5 was four times higher.
Chirashee Ghosh, Senior Assistant Professor in Department of Environment Studies, Delhi Universities, said the reasons behind high pollution level in Anand Vihar is that it is situated at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh (UP) border and also there is Inter-State Bus Terminus and big construction projects going on. “Thousands of vehicles enter in to the city and add up to the worsening pollution,” said Ghosh.
The situation at Mandir Marg area is dangerously high, according to the weekly statistics of the National Air Quality Index (NAQI). The level of PM (10) fluctuated between 361 µg/m3 and 475 µg/m3 while PM (2.5) was recorded at 181 µg/m3 to 200 µg/m3.
The PM level was recorded 333 µg/m3 while PM 2.5 was 181 µg/m3 in RK Puram area which is considered slightly greener as compared to other areas of the city. Besides, IGI airport is comparatively safer with relatively low concentration of PM, claimed NAQI.
While commenting on visibility, IMD officials and scientists in the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) said it will remain poor due to dispersion of PMs. “Situation varies at different places due to unusual atmospheric pressures. However, the adequate amount of rain with high wind speed can help wash out the pollutants,” said a senior IMD official.