While air pollution levels in the national Capital are showing an upward trend as the winter has set in, fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) level touched 300 µg/m3 and PM 10 was at 118 µg/m3 which is 18 µg/m3 above than safe limit set by Indian Meteorological Sensors and Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC).
Notably, real time ambient air meters of US Embassy also showed city’s air quality at moderate levels in the area. On contrary, other places of city — including Anand Vihar, IGI Airport and green lung of Delhi R K Puram — have shown poor air quality. However, New Delhi’s Mandir Marg area recorded both pollutants (PM 2.5 &10) at 180.2 µg/cubic metres and 86.6 µg/cubic metres
Environmentalists said that with the less PM values at Mandir Marg, this has been proved that small scale industries and less greenery are mainly responsible for higher values of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM).
“Mandir Marg area is situated near Delhi ridge is much greener comparatively. Wind speed is also major factor for less concentrations of pollutants in air,” said Gopal Krishna, an environmentalist.