The Delhi Government’s ambitious programme car-free day at Vikas Marg on Tuesday failed to mitigate air pollutants. There was only 11.69 per cent of reduction in PM 2.5 at laxmi Nagar Metro station whereas same pollutant was observed 104.01 per cent higher in nearby Nirman Vihar.
According to the statistics released by the Delhi Pollution Control committee (DPCC) on Wednesday, the level of Secondary pollution Particulate Matter (PM ) 2.5 was peculiarly high at laxmi Nagar Metro station, Nirman Vihar and near to Preet Vihar Red light (the corridor was fixed for car free zone) during the car-free day.
Not only the PM but the concentration of harmful gases such as; nitrogen oxide was also found alarmingly high. A day before of car-free day at Vikas Marg , the gas concentration was 182 where as on car-free day it was 185.
The Delhi Government had organised car-free day to reduce pollution level in the city but DPCC data has showed that car-free day has failed. “Car-free day should be organised on holiday. As it was on working day and it is voluntary practice. By and large people had used their vehicles to reach work destinations on time,” said Gopal Krishan, a conservationist.
There is no substantial reduction in the size of PM 10 after the car-free day was over.
As per the DPCC’s data, the PM level 10 increased by 10.33, 9.26 and 20.52 per cent in the car free zones. Statistically, PM-10 level was 998, 720 and 693 (µg/m3) was recorded after the care-free day while the same was 907, 659 and 575 on the eve of car free day.