The Delhi Government’s odd-even scheme to curb pollution came to an end on Friday while no significant changes in the city air quality has been observed as the presence of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 is still three times higher than the safe limit.
Taking into account the fifteen days database of PM 2.5 , prepared by SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), a pollution and weather monitoring unit of Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), New Delhi, the value of harmful pollutant oscillated between 121 and 289 (µgm-3) during odd -even scheme in past fifteen days.
However, initial data of the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) SAFAR indicated that the AAP Government’s experiment made a little difference to air quality but the pollution data from January 4 to January 8 (280 -225) (µgm-3) had showed that imposing ban on odd/even numbered vehicles that caused a mere 5 per cent pollution, did not make actual difference on the mass concentration of primary pollutants.
Ecologists, health experts and Indian Metrological Department (IMD) scientists said rise or fall of the values of pollutants was dependent upon the freak weather conditions, “Though exposure to harmful vehicular emission was less during odd-even but de-facto is wind speed and high temperature to reduce the levels of PMs in atmosphere,” said senior official of IMD.
SAFAR data indicated that there was sharp decrease in the value of PM 2.5 remarked on January 9 which was 121 µgm-3. “Although value was tranquil but still deteriorating,”official said further.
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) which measured air quality and traffic volumes at five important locations in the city said, while air pollution levels “increased” in the first week of January, and in the second week too.
Despite the fact air quality was marginally better, it still remained poor. The CEEW works in collaboration with the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
“There is no conclusive evidence to prove that the odd-even policy improved Delhi’s air quality or reduced traffic congestion. On the basis of data collected from low-cost air pollution monitors, indicates that the average air pollution levels increased in the first week of January as compared to the previous week,” said CEEW report.
The monitoring station of US Embassy at Chanakyapuri area in New Delhi showed the air quality as hazardous. The Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) of the last fifteen days found it danegrously high. The mass concentration of PM 2.5 in New Delhi Embassy area, Shadipur, Civil lines, Anand Vihar and RK Puram was relatively higher as compare to December month.