Buoyed by positive public response to 15-day odd-even trial scheme launched since January 1 to clean the national Capital’s air, the Delhi Government on Tuesday claimed that there was a significant drop in the level of primary pollutants in the air. However, air quality index of both (Central and State) Government agencies indicate the opposite.
As per the official real time air data released by the Delhi Government, the concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was measured between 221 to 441 (µg/m3).
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai claimed that the reduction in pollutants was the result of the smooth implementation of the odd-even formula on its fourth day. The Minister claimed that the level of PM 2.5 was not going down in peripheral (border) areas while it has lessened inside Delhi. The data from monitoring of PM 2.5 at 20 locations showed that as one moved from border areas inside Delhi it has decreased.
“The reading of PM 2.5 at Sangam Vihar was 415 while it was 221 in Jangpura. The 13 locations gave readings of 200-300 of PM 2.5 while seven locations showed readings in the range of 300-400. These seven locations are on border areas,” said Rai, adding that a “permanent solution” of pollution due to PM 2.5 caused by vehicles could be solved by construction of Eastern and Western peripheral highways.
Though the Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) officials and State Government have asserted that levels of lethal particles are going down during the odd-even scheme but observed concentration of PM 2.5 is still seven times higher than the prescribed standards of Indian Metrological Department (IMD) which is 60 µg/m3.
A Senior IMD official said the fluctuations in mass concentrations of particles are due to weather conditions. “City temperature and moderate wind speed both are equally responsible for pollutants today. Speed of wind is relatively low while temperature is twenty two degree Celsius, which is unusual in January. Pollution level in Delhi will subside after rain which is expected after two days,” said MeT official. The concentration of same pollutant particle has been found to be at variance by the different monitoring agencies.
As per the US Embassy air quality monitors, level of PM 2.5 measured in different five locations were 221,328,396,366(µg/m3) for Mandir Marg , New Delhi Embassy, Civil lines and IHHS area respectively. However, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) observed PM 2.5 was 278.4 µg/m3 which was approximately five times higher of the prescribed limit.
Importantly, six AAQMS of three agencies (CPCB, DPCC and US Embassy) are installed in same location whereas the concentration of primary pollutants (particulate matter (10,2.5), secondary pollutants (gases) vary with each other.
To measure the level and concentrations of pollutants, there are six Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AAQMS) that have been installed by the Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC). Also, thirteen metres have been installed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to check gases and other major pollutants in air. Besides, six metres have also been installed by the US Embassy and Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) and the Ministry of Environment and Forest. Meanwhile, monitoring stations of ITO, Civil lines, IGI airport of DPCC and CPCB are not working.
The Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) measured this concentration in twenty different locations
in Delhi.