With the winter approaching, the air quality of the national Capital has started to deteriorate and chances are high that the city will struggle with poor air that has been measured five times more noxious than the Particulate Matter (PM-10).
On Sunday, areas such as R K Puram and Mandir Marg were found to be enveloped with poor air. Even the border areas like Anand Vihar, Mehrauli and neighbouring Noida have started to feel the toxic pollutants.
Though there is no mist in the atmosphere, the air quality has deteriorated with high concentration of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPM). The pressure of SPMs is bound to increase with every passing day, said experts.
Dr Sachidanand Singh, Principal Scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) told The Pioneer that freak weather condition is a problem in Delhi. "The amount of rainfall in September was zero. With high wind speed and adequate amount of rainfall, the SPM could have been cleared but that did not happen," said Dr Singh.
Real time ambient air monitors of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) at Anand Vihar have traced the mass concentration of Particulate Matter (PM)-10 five times higher than its safer limit, which is at 100µg/m3.
At US Embassy meters, PM (10) level was recorded three times higher than the prescribed standards set by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD). At Anand Vihar area PM 2.5 was 152 µg/m3. The prescribed standards of PM (10) and PM (2.5) are 100 µg/m3 and 60 µg/m3 respectively.
The situation in other areas, however, seemed relatively better according to the pollution index of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPB).
Experts said constructions and emissions from industries are responsible for increasing the mass concentration of particulate matters in city's environment. Surprisingly, the green part of Delhi — RK Puram, levels of PMs were also measured three time higher than the safer limit.
The SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), a unit of Ministry of Earth Science, also marked air quality "Moderate", however, it was "Good" earlier.
The mass concentrations of both the pollutants showed extremely high levels in other areas of the city, including Mandir Marg, Civil lines, Punjabi Bagh and IGI airport.
Noticeably, benzene, the cacogenic compound was also 1.5 µg/m3 high than its prescribed limit which05 µg/m3. "Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles," said environmentalists. "Vehicular emission play major role in the contribution of PM in air. Every day above 1,400 new cars run on Delhi roads. Both, State and the Centre have to act together to overcome the worse situation in the Capital," experts added.