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From bad to worse: Local factors to blame as new hotspots emerge in Delhi

NEW DELHI: New Moti Bagh, Nehru Nagar, Sonia Vihar and Delhi University’s North Campus are the emerging pollution hotspots with unusually high PM2.5 concentrations. These are in addition to the 13 hotspots identified in 2018 and considered to have an annual PM2.5 concentration higher than the city’s average. Delhi pollution hotspots An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment has shown that there are new locations in the city with bad pollution levels. Though Delhi Pollution Control Committee has prepared action plans to deal with pollutants at the 13 old hotspots, no such step has yet been taken for the new locations. Track the pollution level in your city Experts said the pollution levels in these locations depended on local pollutant sources and climatic conditions. Another CSE analysis done this year showed that the average PM2.5 concentration at Nehru Nagar, NSUT Dwarka and Lodhi Road was 118 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022, higher than in the 10 hotspots of 2018 and only behind Jahangirpuri (127 micrograms per cubic metre), Anand Vihar (124) and Mundka (117). In 2022, the other non-hotspots with the worst PM2.5 levels were Patparganj (109 micrograms per cubic metre), Alipur (104), Sonia Vihar (103), ITO (102) and Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (101). Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, said, “The proliferation of pollution hotspots needs proper investigation and hyper local action strategies that address all local sources of pollution and exposures. Such an approach has been taken for the hotspots that were officially identified in 2018. But the scope needs to be expanded to include the newer hotspots as well. The hotspot action also needs to be supported by a city-wide strategy for mitigation because local action for sources like vehicles may not suffice. Hotspots require strong compliance, monitoring and reporting strategy.” Sunil Dahiya, analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, added, “The increase in pollution levels at new locations is an indicator of worsening transport sector emissions, unregulated construction of residential buildings, workspaces and roads, etc., in those locations. Delhi needs an aggressive shift to an electric-powered public transportation system and non-motorised transport infrastructure that motivates citizens to stop buying new vehicles and not use personal transport vehicles. This is required to reduce the emission load from transport. We need to give up on the mentality of building flyovers to improve transport in the city and instead use that money to build better public transportation systems.” We also published the following articles recently Mayor Shelly Oberoi for random checks at pollution hotspotsMayor Shelly Oberoi has instructed MCD officials to enforce strict measures to tackle pollution in Delhi. She will personally check the arrangements and has asked surveillance teams to ensure the ban on dumping construction waste and open burning of waste is implemented. Challans have been imposed for violations. The MCD and Delhi government are working together, and residents are urged not to burst crackers during Diwali. Additional measures have been funded for the 12 zones, and officials will carry out ground checks to implement anti-pollution measures.105029090 Delhi: Fire department starts sprinkling water at 13 pollution hotspotsThe Delhi Fire Services is conducting a water-sprinkling operation at 13 pollution hotspots in the city to address the worsening air pollution crisis. These hotspots were selected based on the levels of PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants. The operation aims to settle down dust and improve air quality. The government has also implemented emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan due to the deteriorating situation. In addition, the odd-even car rationing scheme will be implemented from November 13 to 20, and in-person classes in schools will be suspended to protect children's health.105014767 Mumbai air pollution: 350 BEST buses to get air-purifiers, traffic hotspots to get filtration chimneysThe city of Mumbai is taking various technological measures to combat air pollution. This includes fitting air filters on buses, installing virtual chimneys at congestion spots, placing special streetlights, and implementing air purification systems in gardens. The municipal body is actively implementing these measures as part of a comprehensive strategy to address air quality issues. In addition, the Maharashtra government has issued guidelines for air pollution mitigation and is monitoring the progress of these technologies. IIT Bombay is also collaborating with companies to test and assess new pollution reduction technologies.104905505

The Odd and Even of Delhi’s Air

In 1996, the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment published a report on air pollution in the city. It discussed in detail the main culprit (vehicles), outlined policy measures, and described a series of quite creative awareness-building actions that they had undertaken primarily through the print media. According to CSE, almost two-thirds of the city’s pollution load was accounted for by vehicular pollution, and so, it made an argument to impose stringent emission standards, improve fuel quality, invest in public transport, and more generally, monitor air better. Almost 30 years later, air quality continues to be poor for most of the year, and severe for several weeks. As a massive urban agglomeration and the node of political power and media attention, Delhi’s air attracts special attention. Worsening air quality here is accompanied by a public frenzy, and growing frustration that nothing seems to change compels everyone from the state government to the courts to act. Or, at the very least, be seen to act. Hence, odd/even.

Decision on odd-even plan in Delhi after Supreme Court hearing on Fri: Rai

The Delhi government will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court ahead of the Friday hearing in response to its directions on air pollution A decision on the odd-even road rationing scheme proposed to be implemented from Monday, November 13, will be taken on Friday after the Supreme Court’s hearing on the measures taken for air pollution in the national Capital, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. At its hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court termed the odd-even scheme as “optics” and appeared to question its efficacy and success in the past in reducing the dangerously high pollution levels. In the written order that followed the hearing, the bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia asked the Delhi government to revert on Friday. “It is thus suggested that though the Delhi Government is seeking to impose restrictions on the basis of “Odd-Even”, she (amicus curiae Aparajita Singh) submits that this is really an unscientific method. If on the basis of colour-coded stickers, vehicles which have orange stickers (run on diesel) can be banned instead. On this aspect also, the state government will report back to us,” the bench said on Tuesday. Rai said the transport department has been told to present the two major studies conducted on the odd-even schemes. “Two studies on the impact of the odd-even scheme have been conducted in the past; one by Harvard University and the other by Delhi Technological University (DTU). The reports will be submitted to the Supreme Court and as per the directions of the SC, a final decision will be taken on Friday,” he said. According to the government’s odd-even policy, private vehicles with registration plates ending in odd numbers will be allowed on the streets on odd-numbered dates, while even-numbered vehicles can ply on even dates. The plan, first implemented in Delhi in 2016 and repeated in 2017 and 2019, has been a matter of debate with no comprehensive study backing the step in its efficacy to curb vehicular pollution. The odd-even scheme is part of the restrictions mandated under Grap 4 when air quality index reaches severe+ levels (AQI value of 450+). A study by DTU on the 2016 implementation of the scheme found that the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 levels dropped, but only partially. According to the study, an average reduction of 5.73% in PM2.5 levels and 4.70% in PM10 levels was seen across three roads assessed by the authors. As of October this year, nearly 2.5 million cars ply on Delhi roads every day. In 2019, the government cited the study by the University of Chicago and Harvard University to explain its decision to implement the odd-even scheme, saying it found that Delhi’s air pollution reduced by around 14%-16% during the first odd-even experiment in January 2016. Experts and environmentalists have underlined a gamut of concerns with the programme. Several have called it short-sighted and unscientific, while others have highlighted the long list of exemptions to the rule, especially those for taxis and two-wheelers. “The effectiveness of this measure will depend on the minimal exemptions. This will be inconvenient for personal car users just as the way other emergency measures impact the other target groups. But such aggressive action has to catalyse longer term reforms in public transport services and fleet electrification to avoid such disruptive action in the coming winters,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at Centre for Science and Environment.

NO2 levels shoot up in Delhi despite ban on trucks, experts point to Diwali rush

Diwali-related traffic could be adding to Delhi’s air pollution woes, going by a spike in nitrogen dioxide levels seen in some parts of the city on Wednesday — these were four times the 24-hour level prescribed by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and over 13 times the 24-hour standard that the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines prescribe. In South Delhi’s RK Puram, for instance, data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed that the NO2 level at 5 pm was 329.7 µg/m3. The national 24-hour standard is 80 µg/m3, and the WHO’s 24-hour guideline is 25 µg/m3. This is on a day when the average AQI at 4 pm was 426, in the ‘severe’ category. In contrast, on November 3 (when the AQI at 4 pm was worse at 468), RK Puram recorded a peak NO2 level of 142.9 µg/m3 at 11 am. On Wednesday, the highest level recorded in the first half of the day at RK Puram was 229.6 µg/m3 at noon. With emissions from the transport sector contributing the largest chunk to NO2 levels among local sources in Delhi, Diwali-related traffic could be driving the surge, said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Gurgaon: CO level 70 times higher than safe limit, air still ‘very poor’

GURGAON: It’s not only PM2.5 and PM10 that are pushing the city’s air quality index (AQI) to hazardous levels. The level of carbon monoxide (CO) too is over 70 times the permissible limit, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CO concentration in the city on Thursday varied between 102µg/m³ and 182µg/m³, while the safe limit is 1.7µg/m³. Gurgaon pollution CO is a toxic gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless, and doesn’t cause irritation, unlike other pollutants. It is produced when carbonaceous fuels like wood, diesel, coal, natural gas, kerosene, and stubble are incompletely burned. High concentrations of CO can cause breathlessness, difficulty in focusing and memory loss. It also affects the supply of oxygen to vital organs. The city’s average CO level (calculated over eight hours) was 130µg/m³ on Wednesday. It was the highest at Sector 51 (182µg/m³), followed by Gwalpahari (125µg/m³), Teri Gram (110µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (102µg/m³). On Tuesday too, Sector 51 had the highest CO level at 110µg/m³, followed by Gwalpahari and Teri Gram (both 102µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (102µg/m³). Experts said that heavy traffic on highways results in high CO levels, but wind blowing in from the north with smoke from stubble burning are behind the current rise. “The CO concentration shoots up due to the winds coming down from the northern region. The winds have high concentration of CO because of burning of paddy, apart from local factors like garbage burning and plying of diesel vehicles,” Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment, said. Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials said diesel vehicles are primarily responsible. “Continuous movement of vehicles on the highways passing through the city day and night is also a major concern. On the other hand, in Delhi, the traffic volume is high only during the peak hours. Firewood burning at construction sites by workers at night and waste burning also contribute to high CO levels,” said Vijay Chaudhary, the HSPCB regional officer. Doctors said high CO concentration can lead to shortness of breath and loss of concentration. “Continuous exposure to high levels of CO can lead to severe choking,” chief medical officer Dr Virender Yadav said. Meanwhile, the city’s AQI continued to stay in the ‘very poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Wednesday with an overall reading of 385, up from Tuesday’s 364. The wind speed remained the same, 3kmph. All of the city’s air monitoring stations saw ‘very poor’ air on Wednesday — Teri Gram (385) recorded the highest AQI, followed by Gwalpahari (377), Vikas Sadan (369) and Sector 51 (362). Meanwhile, neighbouring Delhi recorded ‘severe’ AQI at 426 on Wednesday, followed by Faridabad (425), Noida (405) and Ghaziabad (384). According to satellite data from Nasa, collated by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, 44 farm fires were detected in Haryana on Wednesday and 2,003 in Punjab. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said surface winds with speeds ranging from 4kmph to 12kmph are expected in the region for the next six days, and the AQI is likely to stay ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’. According to guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, when AQI is in the ‘moderate’ category, there can be breathing discomfort to the people with asthma and lung or heart disease. In ‘poor’ AQI, breathing discomfort can be felt by most people on prolonged exposure. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor', and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. The PM2.5 level was highest in Sector 51 (398 µg/m³) on Wednesday, followed by 381 µg/m³ in Gwalpahari, 374 µg/m³ in Teri Gram, and 345 µg/m³ in Vikas Sadan. The level of PM10 was the highest at Sector 51 (385µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (344µg/m³) and Gwalpahari (283µg/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn’t record PM10 data. According to the CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40µg/m³ and 60µg/m³, respectively. A day after the city recorded the season’s coldest night at 15.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the minimum temperature was 16 degrees on Wednesday. The maximum temperature too saw a slight rise — it was 32.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, from 31 degrees the day before.

To mitigate pollution, cabs registered outside Delhi may be restricted from entering city

According to an official aware of the matter, there will only be clarity in the matter when an order is issued. The Delhi government is likely to ban the entry of commercial cabs registered outside Delhi, into the Capital as part of the air pollution mitigation efforts, environment minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. Under the rules, which are yet to be notified, cabs registered outside Delhi, which operate through app-based aggregators such as Ola and Uber, will not be allowed to enter the city, along with diesel taxis including those conforming to BS6 emission norms. According to an official aware of the matter, there will only be clarity in the matter when an order is issued. “The order may be issued on Friday,” he said, requesting anonymity. A senior transport department official, however, said the department was also considering restricting rather than completely banning cabs because the move may lead to chaos. “The ban has been proposed during the period odd-even scheme may be in force. Rather than banning all cabs, the odd-even rule may apply to the outside cabs entering Delhi. The cabs registered in Delhi will be exempted from the rule,” the second official added. An industry person aware of the matter said all app-based cabs were CNG, and banning them would mean more private vehicles on the road. Uber, in an official statement, said, “While we haven’t received any order from the transport department, we want to reiterate that all the cars on Uber in Delhi are CNG or electric and shared mobility helps more people commute in fewer cars.” Ola did not respond to the development. Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the department was equipped to implement a complete ban on such taxis. “The final decision would be taken based on the court’s suggestion,” he said. Rai said the Supreme Court wanted to know whether only taxis registered in Delhi can ply in Delhi as an additional measure to control the pollution. “We have asked the transport department to prepare a report regarding the possible impact of the ban on diesel taxis. It will be submitted in the court on Friday,” said Rai, adding that the Delhi government will increase the frequency of buses and Metro to ensure no inconvenience is caused. The period of the ban will likely be November 13-20, after which an extension will depend on the prevailing conditions. Experts said that the restrictions on vehicles can be used as an emergency measure to reduce traffic, toxic exposures and prevent additional loading of emissions. “As vehicles are the major contributors of pollution among the local and regional sources in Delhi, emergency action cannot ignore vehicles. Past studies have shown that such schemes can slow down the peaking of pollution, stabilise and even lower peak levels even when the atmospheric conditions are hostile,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at Centre for Science and Environment.

ENVIRONMENAL EDUCATION: Green programme to promote environmental education in schools across Ludhiana

The district education officer (DEO), Ludhiana (Punjab) has directed all the principals of primary, middle, high, senior secondary and private/aided schools to initiate the Green School Programme (GSP) through a letter. The programme was launched under the Environment Education Programme (EEP-2023-24) in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi and the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh (PSCST). It emphasises the urgent need to integrate effective environmental education into the school curriculum promoting sustainability and resource efficiency. As part of initiating the programme, schools within the district will undergo an extensive audit conducted by CSE and PSCST. The audit will assess resource consumption patterns and practices in these educational institutions. Post this audit, the top three schools will be recognised and awarded on the World Environment Day 2024.

दिल्ली : हवा में NO2 की मात्रा में भारी वृद्धी, अस्थमा मरीजों पर काफी ज्यादा बुरा असर

दिल्ली की हवा में जहरीली नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड गैस यानी NO2 की मात्रा पिछले साल अक्टूबर के मुकाबले इस साल 60 फ़ीसदी ज़्यादा पाई गई है. Centre for Science and Environment ने अपनी ताजा रिसर्च रिपोर्ट में यह खुलासा किया है. CSE ने कहा है कि दिल्ली में जो बिजी ट्रैफिक इंटरेक्शंस है वहां पर NO2 की मात्रा शहर के दूसरे इलाकों के मुकाबले 3 से 4 गुनी ज्यादा पाई गई है.

Delhi pollution: Stubble burning has declined in Punjab but is still a menace

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the neighbouring states of Delhi, ordering them to take immediate action against stubble burning, which the court said was one of the major contributors to air pollution in the national capital. Punjab largely bore the brunt of the court’s ire, as the state is said to be the biggest source of pollution through stubble burning. However, data shows that although Punjab still remains far ahead of others, the overall number of stubble burning instances recorded in the state has actually declined in recent years. Meanwhile, they have gone up in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. A decline of air quality in winter has been a regular affair in Delhi for many years now. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the health impact of the city’s air quality has remained 'severe' since November 1 this year. Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology shows that stubble burning accounted for more than 38 percent of the concentration of PM2.5 particles in Delhi’s air on Wednesday. On the other hand, transportation, the second-biggest source, accounted for just above 11 percent. The practice of setting crop residue on fire so that the field can be made ready for sowing the next crop is known as stubble burning. For farmers, thin profit margins and pressure to plant the next crop on time to maximise their yields mean that stubble burning is the most inexpensive and easiest way to clear their fields. Punjab has seen the highest number of stubble burning instances recorded over the years. In fact, even this year, the state accounts for more than 65 percent of the stubble burning recorded in the country since September 15. According to the data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), as many as 31,872 stubble burning events were recorded in India from September 15 to November 7. Even on Tuesday, as the Supreme Court was coming down harshly on the state, Punjab recorded 1,515 cases of stubble burning. November 5, which saw 3,230 stubble burning events in Punjab, has been the worst day so far this year. “This kind of rapid build-up is not uncommon during this part of the season and is generally associated with smoke-fall from farm stubble fires and meteorological factors assisting transportation of the smoke to Delhi-NCR and topping the high local pollution. But it must be kept in consideration that this rapid build-up in a short time span is able to tip air quality into severe category because baseline pollution from local sources is already very high,” said Avikal Somvanshi, Head of Urban Lab, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while releasing its analysis report of Delhi’s air pollution this week. According to the CSE report, levels of NO2, which comes largely from vehicles, have seen a significant rise in Delhi. This indicates the high impact of vehicular pollution. In fact, city-wide average NO2 is up by 60 percent compared to the first week of October last year. This signifies that while stubble burning needs to be curbed, more needs to be done to bring pollution from other major sources such as vehicles, industry, power plants, waste burning, and construction under control.

Now, green programme to promote environmental education at Ludhiana schools

In a letter issued by the district education officer (DEO) on Tuesday to all the principals of primary, middle, high, senior secondary and private/aided schools, announced the step to initiate the Green School Programme (GSP) Aimed to instil environmental consciousness and sustainable practices in schools, it was launched under the Environment Education Programme (EEP-2023-24) in collaboration with the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, and the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh. The initiative, previously known as the National Green Corps (NGC), has been introduced with the support of the Centre. The programme emphasises the urgent need to integrate effective environmental education into the school curriculum, promoting sustainability and resource efficiency. Under the GSP, schools within the district will undergo an extensive audit, conducted by the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi and the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology in Chandigarh. The audit will assess resource consumption patterns and practices in these educational institutions. The best three schools that demonstrate outstanding commitment to environmental conservation will be recognised and awarded on World Environment Day 2024. Schools interested in participating in the audit can register on the Green School Program website: https://greenschoolsprogramme.org/audit/23/register by November 18, 2023. To facilitate the GSP and its objectives, a one-day orientation workshop for school principals and Eco Club in-charges is underway. The workshop aims to provide essential training on GSP registration, the audit process, and the steps required to make schools more eco-friendly. It is open to all schools in the district, including primary/middle, high, senior secondary, and private/aided Schools. The workshop will feature district coordinators or resource persons Narendra Pal Verma, Jasveer Singh and resource person Manpreet Singh. To ensure the smooth organisation of the orientation workshop, specific responsibilities have been assigned to various employees within the district. The training sessions are scheduled to be conducted in Samrala, Khanna, Payal on November 9, 2023 and Jagraon, Raikot, Ludhiana on November 10, 2023.

Amid spike in pollution, Delhi’s high NO2 levels a sign of worry

Delhi’s high particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentration may be the focus of agencies and government departments as they look to bring down the Capital’s high pollution levels but the concentration of another pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), is slowly beginning to spike and is currently two-to-three times the permissible limit of 80 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) in parts of the city, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. NO2 comes largely from vehicle emissions, and its levels indicate an enduring problem with Delhi’s air — pollution from vehicles. According to the Delhi economic survey 2022-23, there are 7,917,898 registered vehicles in Delhi. In addition, Delhi also sees vehicular traffic from Gurugram and Faridabad (in Haryana), and Noida and Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh). It should come as no surprise, then that ITO , one of Delhi’s busiest traffic intersections is currently recording the highest NO2 levels in November, averaging an NO2 concentration of 191µg/m3, over twice the daily safe limit. Another high-traffic zone, Nehru Nagar (123 micrograms per cubic metre) has the second highest concentration in the month, followed by Okhla Phase-2, which recorded an average NO2 concentration of 116µg/m3. CPCB data also showed Delhi’s average NO2 concentration in the first seven days of the month has risen sharply, exacerbated by the prevailing calm wind conditions since November 2. Delhi’s average NO2 concentration in the first week of November was 54.7µg/m3 — a rise of around 47% from last month’s average NO2 concentration of 37.3µg/m3. Even though the 24-hour concentration is lower than the national standard of 80, the average concentration in November is still over two times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) limit of 25µg/m3. Experts say long-term exposure to high NO2 levels is linked to asthma and also increases people’s susceptibility to respiratory infections. Sunil Dahiya, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said the data clearly shows for a need to have sustained plans for busy intersections, where levels are shooting up to around three times the standard. “ All three hotspots have heavy traffic and face congestion, with Okhla having industries too, another NO2 source. Government bodies need to look at monthly data and take action at such intersections so that such levels can be brought down,” Dahiya said. Dahiya added that NO2 levels, similar to PM2.5, was beginning to spike, due to the prevailing calm wind conditions in the city, which were not allowing it to disperse. The NO2 being emitted by vehicles is therefore remaining close to the surface and accumulating -- to levels beyond permissible limits at locations where congestion is more common. Data trends for Delhi were similar in October. ITO recorded an average NO2 concentration of 102µg/m3 in the month of October. Okhla Phase-2 recorded 80µg/m3. In an analysis, released on November 5, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also commented on the rising NO2 levels in the city, pointing out that these were up by around 60% in comparison to the first week of October. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at CSE, said high NO2 levels in an area were a clear indicator of the impact of vehicular traffic.

Stubble burning not only to blame for alarming spike in air quality in Delhi: report

Delhi’s pollution level – PM2.5 concentration – saw its first huge spike of this winter season on November 2 with a sudden and staggering 68 per cent jump within 24 hours, crossing 313 microgramme per metre cubed which was equivalent to “severe plus” category as per the Air Quality Index (AQI) concentration range, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in its latest study. It also said that stubble burning alone could not have led to this alarming spike in Delhi’s air pollution levels if local factors, including vehicle emissions, had not already poisoned the national capital’s air. Releasing the new analysis by CSE of the deadly winter pollution that has gripped Delhi-NCR these days, CSE Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Anumita Roychowdhury said: “This winter season has started with a much higher pollution level compared to November last year. The combination of adverse meteorological conditions, onset of crop residue burning, and high local pollution has tilted the scale dangerously, increasing public health risk. “Even though the overall long-term pollution curve is stable and downward, it is still significantly above the national ambient air quality standards. This demands most stringent and sustained action on vehicles, industry, energy systems and waste management across the region.” The analysis has been done by CSE’s Urban Lab, whose head Avikal Somvanshi said: “This kind of rapid build-up is not uncommon during this part of the season and is generally associated with smoke-fall from farm stubble fire and meteorological factors assisting transportation of the smoke to Delhi-NCR and topping the high local pollution. “But it must be kept in consideration that this rapid build-up in a short time span is able to tip air quality into severe category because baseline pollution from local sources is already very high.”

Delhi air pollution: Why November became worst in last 10 years

The air in and around the national capital is heavy and burns the eyes. But Delhi wasn't always like this in November. It wasn’t so about a decade back. Punjab existed, and so did its farms. What has changed all of a sudden that Delhi’s air has started becoming so toxic around November? Sports commentator Sanjay Banerjee, who has been living in Delhi-NCR for the last 23 years, has seen better winter air quality. He attests to the fact that high pollution has become a major problem only in the last decade. “I stop going out for my morning walks and stay indoors as much as possible. I use an air purifier at home and put on a mask whenever I have to step out,” says 61-year-old Sanjay Banerjee. People who have been living in Delhi for decades would agree with Banerjee. The onset of winter was with blue skies. It was only around Diwali that Delhi’s air quality would dip and that too for a fortnight at best. Now, things have become much grimmer. “Earlier, we used to see patients with breathing problems just before and after Diwali. This year we are witnessing such patients from the beginning of October, and November is particularly bad,” Dr GC Khilnani, a pulmonologist who has been practising in Delhi since 1991, tells IndiaToday.In. “I am seeing people reporting breathing issues since the beginning of October and there is a 30-40 per cent increase in such patients,” says Dr Khilnani, who is chairman of PSRI Institute of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine and member of the WHO technical advisory group on global air pollution and health. Vehicular emissions, construction dust and smoke from farm fires are three major contributory factors to the air pollution in Delhi. Emissions from vehicles and industry and biomass burning contribute to the tinier PM2.5 pollutants while construction dust is behind the coarser PM10 pollutants. This year, the percentage share of PM2.5 in PM10 has crossed 50 per cent, indicating higher impact of combustion sources of pollution, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This brings us to the most interesting question -- why does Delhi become a gas chamber in November? And why has it started affecting air quality only since the last decade? PUNJAB FARM FIRES AND POLLUTION IN DELHI Though Delhi’s air remains poor almost throughout the year, it is only in November that people sit up and take note of it as it reaches hazardous levels. Vehicular emissions and construction dust are present throughout the year, but what makes November worse are the smoke from farm fires and the wind conditions.

AQI ‘very poor’ for second day, all eyes on wind speed

GURGAON: The city witnessed a slight improvement in the air quality on Tuesday with the wind speed at 6kmph. The air quality index (AQI) — at 364 — stayed in the ‘very poor’ category for the second consecutive day, after it was recorded at 373 on Monday. Of the four monitoring stations in the city, the highest AQI — 404 (severe) — was recorded at Sector 51, followed by 357 in Gwalpahari, 342 in Teri Gram, and 360 in Vikas Sadan. Track the pollution level in your cityAccording to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), surface winds with speeds of up to 12kmph are expected for the next six days while the AQI will likely be in the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ categories. The PM2.5 reading on Tuesday was highest in Sector 51 (399µg/m3), followed by 387µg/m3 in Gwalpahari, 375µg/m3 in Teri Gram, and 348µg/m3 in Vikas Sadan. Meanwhile, the PM10 data in Sector 51 was recorded at 381µg/m3, followed by 342µg/m3 in Teri Gram and 282µg/m3 in Gwalpahari. Vikas Sadan does not record the PM10 data. According to the CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40µg/m3 and 60µg/m3, respectively. “The region is witnessing a slight relief, but this will not last for long. The air quality is likely to deteriorate to the severe category again in a day or two as the wind speed may reduce and make the dispersion of pollutants difficult,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. According to satellite data from Nasa, collated by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, 26 farm fires were detected in Haryana on Tuesday and 1,515 in Punjab. Meanwhile, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 15.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and a maximum of 31 degrees. There is a possibility of rain on Friday because of a western disturbance in the region. However, this may not bring a dip in the temperature, according to an official of India Meteorological Department (IMD). We also published the following articles recently Wind improves air quality in Noida and Gurgaon, AQI stands in 'very poor' zoneThe air quality in Noida and Ghaziabad slightly improved as wind speed increased, but remained in the 'very poor' category. Gurgaon's air quality index (AQI) decreased from 'severe' to 'very poor', while Noida's AQI decreased from 'severe' to 'very poor' as well. However, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad still had 'severe' AQI. The Noida administration appointed sector magistrates to enforce compliance of guidelines and restrictions on diesel trucks and construction activities.105025036 Wind helps improve AQI, but air still very poorGurgaon experienced a slight improvement in air quality due to increased wind speed, resulting in better dispersion of pollutants. The city's air quality index (AQI) dropped from severe to very poor. However, experts warn that the AQI is still hazardous and more action is needed to reduce emissions from industries, power plants, and local sources like transportation and construction. The PM2.5 and PM10 levels remained high, exceeding the permissible limits. Delhi, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad also recorded poor to severe AQI. Health experts advise residents to stay indoors and wear N95 masks during peak pollution hours.105025430 Muradpur AQI worst as air quality deteriorates in cityThe air quality in Patna has reached its highest level of pollution this winter, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 265. Several other cities in the state of Bihar also recorded high AQI levels above 300, which is considered very poor and can cause respiratory illnesses. To combat air pollution, the Patna Municipal Corporation has implemented strict measures to control construction activities and has deployed anti-smog guns and sprinkler machines. The India Meteorological Department has predicted dry weather during Diwali.105026656

Turning trash to treasure in India’s waste management sector

[BENGALURU/CHENNAI] India’s rapid urbanisation has meant growing environmental problems arising from municipal waste – but for Singapore’s waste management players, these represent business opportunities. “Waste management is a key area of growth within the urban sector,” said G Jayakrishnan, executive director for South Asia, the Middle East and Africa at Enterprise Singapore. India generates some 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste each day, according to a 2023 report from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. “This opens new avenues for Singapore companies to enter the market and provide value-added services, to contribute and advance urban development in India...

Air Quality In Odisha Capital Slips To ‘Moderate’ Category

Bhubaneswar: While Delhi is choking with pollution levels again turning ‘severe’ on Wednesday morning, the air quality in Odisha capital is also causing concern having plunged to ‘moderately polluted’ category with winter settling in. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela – and four towns – Balasore, Angul, Talcher and Kalinganagar in the state are identified as non-attainment cities with high PM-10 and PM 2.5 in ambient air. And the state capital now ranks first among these cities and towns, according to reports. In Bhubaneswar, air quality index (AQI) was in the range of 103 to 130 between November 1 and 4. The PM10 (particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less) stood at 145mg/m3 at Chandrasekharpur on November 1, 104 mg/m3 at monitoring station of OSPCB at Unit VIII on November 2 and 140 mg/m3 at Khandagiri and 101 mg/m3 at Palasuni on November 3. It was found to be 124 mg/m3 and 121 mg/m3 on November 4 at Capital police station area and IRC village respectively. The level of PM2.5, another major pollutant in the air, was also said to be poor in parts of the city on November 7. According to Odisha State Pollution Board (OSPCB) officials, the level of the pollutant at different stations was found to be in the range of 35 to 54 mg/m3 on on November 3 and 4. Although there are no large industrial establishments here, construction activities along with the regular movement of heavy goods on National Highway-16 is massively contributing to the deteriorating air quality in the city. ADVERTISEMENT The officials added that temperature inversion, especially during winter, further prevent the rise and dispersal of pollutants from the lower layers of the atmosphere with PM10 pollutant remaining suspended in the air for nearly six hours and PM2.5 for even a longer period. While the coarse (bigger) particles can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, the fine (smaller) particles can get into the deep parts of your lungs, causing cough and asthma attacks, or even into your blood, according to Centre of Disease Control and Prevention. ACTION PLAN Notably, clean air action plan has been devised as per National Clean Air Programme (Ncap) at these seven places in the state. The highest of Rs 20.52 crore of Rs 54.38 crore received in the last financial year under Ncap was sanctioned for Bhubaneswar to ensure that steps are taken to reduce air pollution, Forest ,Environment and Climate Change Minister Pradip Amat had told the Assembly in March. WINTER TROUBLE In April, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in its annual winter pollution report, stated that Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha are increasingly falling into the pincer grip of toxic particulate pollution during winter season. Bihar with an average PM2.5 level of 134 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) was the most polluted state in the east, followed by West Bengal with average PM2.5 level of 84 µg/m3 between October 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023. Odisha was third with a seasonal average of 63 µg/m3 with Talcher (75 µg/m³) being the most polluted.