There is no major difference in air quality levels of Delhi compared to last year, the Delhi Government said on Friday. “Analysis of the data of different pollutants shows that no major difference has been observed in the concentration of particulate matter during the last week when compared to corresponding week in the year 2015,” a Government statement said.
The statement came after Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain reviewed the prevailing ambient air quality of the city in a meeting with the officers of Environment Department and Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
“The Environment Department said in winter, particularly when fog/mist develops in the city, a general perception prevails that the air quality worsens, whereas the fact is that fog and smog are two separate environmental phenomena,” the statement said. It added the national Capital was facing foggy conditions at present.
The levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10, most dominant pollutants in Delhi’s air, have consistently violated the prescribed standards by about four times each over the last ten days, official data shows.
The average levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 over an eleven-day period from November 21 to December 1 were 194 and 438 micrograms per cubic metre, as against the corresponding safe limits of 60 an d 100 respectively.
Although, these readings show no major difference when compared to the data collated over the same period last year, the city Government said.
In fact, the average level of these ultrafine particulates over the same period were higher at 264 and 518 last year. This year the situation has marginally improved riding on the back of strong wind movement for about a fortnight.
Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) air quality index (24-hour average) was in the ‘very poor’ category today, with a reading of 378. Yeserday, it was ‘severe’ at 403.
The 24-hour-average (rolling) of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were 197 and 381 micrograms per cubic metre respectively today, as per Central agency SAFAR.