Delhi records cleanest air in last five years, post – Dussehra

Here is good news for Delhi, the national capital breathed much cleaner post- Dussehra, with the air quality remaining in the moderate category celebrations.

The city’s 38 monitoring stations recorded a marginal rise in pollutants, with significant pollutants remaining within permissible limits. The only area that slipped into very poor category was Dwarka sector-8.

The officials and experts credited metrological conditions, such as extended rainfalls in the neighbouring regions and the attempts by environment activists on ground, one of them being crackdown on use of Firecrackers.

“There was no notable spike in pollutants post effigy burning, as favourable meteorological conditions did not allow pollutants to accumulate. Because of an extended monsoon, Delhi still has easterly winds coming in, which do not allow trapping of pollutants,” said a senior official from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Lesser use of crackers, with many organisers opting for digital visualization for effigy burning, was also a major factor, the official said.

As indicated by DPCC information upon the arrival of Dussehra, the PM 2.5 incentive at Anand Vihar — one of the significant contamination hotspots in the city — expanded from 29 micrograms for each cubic meter at 5pm to 105 micrograms for each cubic meters at 11pm.

The admissible principles for PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 60 and 100 micrograms for each cubic meter, separately.

“A slight rise in pollutants could be seen only for a few hours on the same day, post-effigy burning. The air quality at most monitoring stations remained in the moderate category. This has been possible because of a combination of factors including good weather conditions as well as allowing only use of green crackers and other dust-control measures being taken by the city government,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). (Quotes, Hindustan Times)

On Wednesday, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was 173 in the ‘moderate’ category as compared to 138 (also in the moderate category) a day before. Only Dwarka Sector 8 metro station recorded AQI at 308 in ‘very poor’ category from ‘moderate’ a day before.

“This year was the cleanest perhaps in the last ten years. There is no major dip so far because of the effect of rainfall in adjoining regions as well, which is clearing away the pollutants. There is no intrusion of dust from outside as well as from local factors, as rainfall and good wind has been washing it down. Efforts on the ground have to be maintained throughout winter season in order to prevent air quality from worsening,” said D Saha, former head of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air laboratory. (Quotes: Hindustan Time)

Editorial comment:

At Karvaan India we write about issues concerning development with focus on the Sustainable Development Goals . We published this news story as we believe it’s important for all of us to understand that with little collective efforts we can make big changes. Our environment is vital to our existence and everyone has a responsibility to save it.
As Diwali approaches, we urge citizens of India on behalf of our team to restrain from burning fire crackers and move towards celebrating an Eco Diwali.

Wishing you all a Happy Diwali in advance.
Karvaan India