The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will monitor the Ambient Air quality with special reference to PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 74 locations in and around the national Capital during the second phase of odd-even scheme which is scheduled between 15 and April 30.
According to a senior official of DPCC, the Monitoring of Ambient Air is planned at 74 locations with the help of light Scattering Based Technology. “These locations will be monitored regularly excluding Sundays almost on the same time and monitoring will include random sampling for short durations and will be targeted to know the trend of air quality,” said DPCC official.
These 74 locations are on seven borders of Delhi. In these border areas, one sampler will be taken inside Delhi (1-2 km), second sampler will be on the border and third sampler will be 1-2 kms inside the neighbouring States. In addition, 20 residential locations of Delhi will be monitored using manual samplers, twice between April 6 to April 14 and twice during the odd even phase II.
“Fifteen Industrial areas of Delhi will also be monitored in the same manner. At 10 locations, monitoring will be conducted to know the impact of vehicular traffic on road, for this a sampler will be located on the road and second sampler will be at about 100-150 metres away,” said official.
While a few days are left for the start of the odd-even scheme, air monitoring stations observed non -working. The DPCC has six monitoring stations, which are situated in different locations of city. Out of six, only two monitoring stations — RK Puram and Anand Vihar are working while IGI airport, Civil lines, Mandir Marg and Punjabi Bagh stations were tagged “under construction” status.
Reacting on the matter, DPCC senior official said all the ambient air monitoring stations are under construction. “The stations are under the maintenance, UPS and air conditions are being installed,” said the official.