All mega cities in India, irrespective of their locations in different geo-climatic zones, faced the challenge of worsening PM 2.5 levels during the winter season of 2022-23. While levels in Delhi have been the highest, the remaining cities have also experienced very poor to worsening trends.
CSE की नई रिपोर्ट में सामने आई दिल्ली-एनसीआर के वायु प्रदूषण की सच्चाई [ पूरी ख़बर यहाँ से पढ़ें: https://hindi.dynamitenews.com/story/the-truth-of-air-pollution-of-delhi-ncr-came-out-in-the-new-report-of-cse ]
ભારતમાં સામાન્ય રીતે જોઈએ તો દિલ્હી વાયુ પ્રદૂષણ માટે ચર્ચામાં રહે છે. પરંતુ આ વખતે જે ડેટા સામે આવ્યો છે તે મુજબ દિલ્હી એશિયાના ટોપ 10 સૌથી પ્રદૂષિત શહેરોની યાદીમાં સામેલ નથી. ગુજરાતનું એક એવું શહેર યાદીમાં સામેલ છે જે પોતાની લીલોતરી માટે પહેલા પ્રખ્યાત હતું. પરંતુ હવે વાયુ પ્રદૂષણમાં અવ્વલ નંબરે છે. ભારતમાં સામાન્ય રીતે જોઈએ તો દિલ્હી વાયુ પ્રદૂષણ માટે ચર્ચામાં રહે છે. પરંતુ આ વખતે જે ડેટા સામે આવ્યો છે તે મુજબ દિલ્હી એશિયાના ટોપ 10 સૌથી પ્રદૂષિત શહેરોની યાદીમાં સામેલ નથી. વિશ્વ વાયુ ગુણવત્તા સૂચકાંક (Air Pollution AQI Level) ના આધારે સોમવારે ઉપલબ્ધ આંકડા મુજબ યાદીમાં ચીનમાંથી 5, મંગોલિયામાંથી એક અને અન્ય 4 શહેર ભારતના સામેલ છે. ગુજરાતનું આ શહેર સૌથી ટોપ પર નવા આંકડા મુજબ ગુજરાતનું પાટનગર ગાંધીનગર વાયુ ગુણવત્તા સૂચકાંક (AQI) 723 સાથે પ્રદૂષણના ખતરનાક સ્તરે જોવા મળ્યું. જે યાદીમાં ટોપ પર છે. આ રિપોર્ટમાં ગાંધીનગર બાદ પાન બજાર, ગુવાહાટી (665), ખિંડીપાડા- ભાંડુપ પશ્ચિમ મુંબઈ (471) અને ભોપાલ ચાર રસ્તા, દેવાસ (315) સામેલ છે. રિપોર્ટમાં કહેવાયું છે કે આ શિયાળામાં દિલ્હી-એનસીઆરમાં હવા, પહેલા કરતા વધુ ચોખ્ખી જોવા મળી છે અને 2018 બાદ આ વખતે સૌથી સ્વચ્છ હવા જોવા મળી. યુએસ-ઈપીએ 2016 માપદંડ દ્વારા પરિભાષિત ઈન્ડેક્સ સ્કેલ મુજબ 0 અને 50 વચ્ચે AQI ને સારો, 51-100 મધ્યમ, 101-150 સંવેદનશીલ સમૂહો માટે બિનઆરોગ્યપ્રદ, 151-200 અસ્વસ્થ, 201-300 ખુબ અસ્વસ્થ અને 300+ 'ખતરનાક' માનવામાં આવે છે. સેન્ટર ફોર સાયન્સ એન્ડ એનવાયરમેન્ટ (CSE) એ વાયુ પ્રદૂષણના સ્તરના પોતાના નવા વિશ્લેષણમાં દાવો કર્યો છે કે 2018માં મોટા પાયે નિગરાણી શરૂ થયા બાદથી આ શિયાળામાં દિલ્હી-એનસીઆર વિસ્તારમાં સૌથી સ્વચ્છ હવા જોવા મળી છે. CSE ના રિપોર્ટમાં કહેવાયું છે કે 2007માં શરૂ થયેલા વિશ્વ વાયુ ગુણવત્તા સૂચકાંક પરિયોજનાનો હેતુ નાગરિકો માટે વાયુ પ્રદૂષણ જાગૃતતાને વધારવાનો અને એકીકૃત તથા વિશ્વવ્યાપી વાયુ ગુણવત્તાની જાણકારી પ્રદાન કરવાનો છે.
ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ : ਪਿਛਲੀਆਂ ਸਰਦੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ, ਦਿੱਲੀ-ਐਨਸੀਆਰ ਦੀ ਹਵਾ 5 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਸਾਫ਼ ਸੀ। ਇਹ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਵਾਤਾਵਰਨ ਲਈ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਫਾਰ ਸਾਇੰਸ ਐਂਡ ਐਨਵਾਇਰਮੈਂਟ (ਸੀਐਸਈ) ਦੀ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਤੋਂ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਈ ਹੈ। ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ 2018 ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਸਰਦੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਿੱਲੀ-ਐਨਸੀਆਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਦੂਸ਼ਣ ਘਟਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦੇ ਉਲਟ, ਹੋਰ ਮਹਾਨਗਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੀਐਮ 2.5 ਦਾ ਵਧਿਆ ਪੱਧਰ ਪਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ। ਸੀਐਸਈ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਜਕਾਰੀ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ਕ ਅਨੁਮਿਤਾ ਰਾਏ ਚੌਧਰੀ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਕੋਲਕਾਤਾ, ਮੁੰਬਈ, ਹੈਦਰਾਬਾਦ, ਬੈਂਗਲੁਰੂ ਅਤੇ ਚੇਨਈ ਸਮੇਤ ਹੋਰ ਮਹਾਨਗਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਰਦੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਦੂਸ਼ਣ ਲਗਭਗ ਮਾਮੂਲੀ ਹੈ। 1 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ, 2022 ਤੋਂ 28 ਫਰਵਰੀ, 2023 ਤੱਕ ਦਿੱਲੀ, ਕੋਲਕਾਤਾ-ਹਾਵੜਾ, ਮੁੰਬਈ, ਹੈਦਰਾਬਾਦ, ਬੈਂਗਲੁਰੂ ਅਤੇ ਚੇਨਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਰਦੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਹਵਾ ਦੀ ਗੁਣਵੱਤਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਲੇਸ਼ਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੋਲਕਾਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਮੁੰਬਈ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਪ੍ਰਦੂਸ਼ਿਤ ਹਨ। ਬੈਂਗਲੁਰੂ ਅਤੇ ਚੇਨਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਵਾ ਦੀ ਗੁਣਵੱਤਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਤੇਜ਼ੀ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਗੜ ਗਈ।
If we look at India in general, Delhi, the capital of the country, is always in discussion for air pollution. But the data that has come out this time is very shocking and according to this new data, Delhi is not included in the list of top 10 most polluted cities in Asia. According to the statistics released by the World Air Pollution AQI (Air Pollution AQI Level) on Monday, this list includes 5 cities in China, one in Mongolia and four in India. According to the new statistics, Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, is at the very top of this list. The most hazardous level of pollution was observed in Gandhinagar with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 723. The report includes Pan Bazar, Guwahati (665), Khindipada-Bhandup West Mumbai (471) and Bhopal Char Rasta, Dewas (315) after Gandhinagar. The report also said that the air in Delhi-NCR this winter was cleaner than ever and the cleanest since 2018. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51-100 moderate, 101-150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy and 300+ ‘hazardous’ according to an index scale defined by the US-EPA 2016 criteria. . The Center for Science and Environment (CSE), in its new analysis of air pollution levels, has claimed that the Delhi-NCR region has seen the cleanest air this winter since the large-scale measures taken in 2018. The CSE report said that the World Air Quality Index project, launched in 2007, aims to raise awareness among citizens about air pollution and provide integrated and global air quality information. Delhi recorded 160 micrograms per cubic meter during the October-January period, the lowest since wide-scale monitoring began in 2018-19. It also said that the PM 2.5 level calculated by averaging monitoring data from 36 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) located in the city was 17 percent lower than the winter seasonal average of 2018-19. Based on a subset of the 10 oldest stations, the improvement is about 20 percent. It also said that the number of days with severe or very severe air quality was the lowest in the past five years. The report said the city averaged about 10 days in the ‘severe’ or worse category this winter, down from 24 days last winter and 33 days in the winter of 2018-19.
In the last winter, the air of Delhi-NCR was the cleanest in 5 years. This information has come out from the report of the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), an organization working for the environment. According to the report, for the first time after 2018, pollution decreased in Delhi-NCR in winter. On the contrary, an increased level of PM 2.5 was found in other metro cities. According to CSE executive director Anumita Roychowdhury, pollution in other metro cities including Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai is almost negligible in winter. The winter air quality analysis in Delhi, Kolkata-Howrah, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai from October 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023 revealed that Kolkata and Mumbai are the most polluted after Delhi. The air quality deteriorated fastest in Bengaluru and Chennai.
Context: There was heavy and extended rainfall in the early phases of the season that prevented smog episodes from building up, says CSE report. More on the News: The winter of 2022 was Delhi’s “cleanest” in the last five years, though its air remains “toxic”. The main determinants for the improved air quality were favourable meteorological conditions as well as a reduction in pollution from farm fires, Delhi-based think tank, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The improvement is a combined effect of meteorology and emergency action based on pollution forecasting. There was heavy and extended rainfall in the early phases of the season that prevented smog episodes from building up and also lowered the seasonal average. The CSE’s numbers, sourced from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), suggest that a factor behind reduced pollution last winter was a drop in instances of ‘severe pollution’. There were only 10 days when air quality was ‘severe’ or ‘severe+’ — the highest levels of pollution. In comparison, there were 24 such days in 2021, 23 in 2020, 25 in 2019, and 33 in 2018. Despite the decline, Delhi continues to remain the most polluted among the cities and towns of NCR.
Delhi had the worst air pollution According to a recent report by the New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment, the winter of 2022–2023 was the cleanest for Delhi–NCR since 2018, when extensive air quality monitoring began. Out of the five major NCR cities, Delhi had the worst air pollution, according to CSE. This winter has been the cleanest in New Delhi-NCR The Urban Lab at CSE conducted the investigation, which showed a consistent decline in seasonal average air pollution levels, despite elevated levels predominating at city stations. Since extensive air quality monitoring began in 2018, this winter has been the cleanest in New Delhi-NCR, according to Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A thorough examination of PM2.5 trends in Delhi-NCR from October 2022 to January 2023 reveals a “bending of the winter pollution curve and decrease of peak values,” according to CSE. Need to be maintained with far stronger action on automobiles “This improvement is a result of both weather predictions and emergency response based on pollution. Early in the season, there was significant and prolonged rainfall, which helped to lower the seasonal average and prevent smog outbreaks from becoming more pronounced. Notwithstanding the decrease, Delhi is still the most polluted of the NCR cities and towns. To reach the clean air standard, this downward trend will need to be maintained with far stronger action on automobiles, industries, garbage burning, construction, solid fuel, and biomass burning, according to Roy Chowdhury. Must Read: Delhi Metro schedule changed? Check out the revised timings here for Holi 2023 High pollution episodes were coordinated despite great distances The data reveals that during this winter, there were still 10 days with severe and severe-plus air quality and one four-day smog incident. Seasonal averages in the greater NCR varied widely amongst the cities and villages, but high pollution episodes were coordinated despite great distances. Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and other nearby cities have slightly higher pollution levels than other NCR cities, although not significantly. This is the issue that this landlocked area is facing, which necessitates even more aggressive effort, according to Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. This analysis looks at annual and seasonal changes in PM2.5 concentration for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, from October 1 to January 31. This study is based on data that is currently being collected in real time from Delhi-operational NCR’s air quality monitoring stations.
2022 winter air in Delhi NCR ‘cleanest’ in five years but ‘toxic’: CSE report
वायू प्रदूषणाच्या समस्येने भारत हैराण आहे. मोठ्या शहरांबरोबरच छोट्या शहरांमध्येही वायू प्रदूषण वाढले आहे., संपूर्ण माहितीसाठी पाहा व्हिडीओ
Amid the rise in influenza A (H3N2) cases in the country, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has stated that all mega cities in India, irrespective of their locations in different geo-climatic zones, faced the challenge of worsening PM2.5 levels during the winter season of 2022-23.
ನವದೆಹಲಿ,ಮಾ.೮- ಗಾಳಿಯ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸುಧಾರಣೆ ಕಾಣುವ ಮೂಲಕ ರಾಷ್ಡ್ರ ರಾಜಧಾನಿ ದೆಹಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತುಸು ಸುಧಾರಣೆ ಕಂಡರೆ ದೇಶದ ವಿವಿಧ ಮಹಾನಗರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಳಿಯ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಕುಸಿಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಆತಂಕ್ಕೆ ಎಡೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ೨೦೨೨-೨೩ ರ ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋಲ್ಕತ್ತಾ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಂಬೈ ,ದೆಹಲಿಯ ನಂತರ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಲುಷಿತಗೊಂಡಿವೆ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮತ್ತು ಚೆನ್ನೈ ಅಪಾಯಕಾರಿ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯಕಾರಕ ಮಟ್ಟ ತಲುಪಿವೆ ಎಂದು ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಸರ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಹೇಳಿದೆ. ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್-ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ ಅವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾದ ಸಿಎಸ್ ಇ ವರದಿ ಅನ್ವಯ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮಹಾನಗರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ಭೂ-ಹವಾಮಾನ ವಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳನ್ನು ವಾಯು ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಹದಗೆಟ್ಟಿದೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ದೆಹಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಯು ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯದ ಮಟ್ಟ ಅತ್ಯಧಿಕವಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ, ಉಳಿದ ನಗರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳಪೆಯಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿವೆ.ದೆಹಲಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊರತುಪಡಿಸಿದರೆ, ಕೋಲ್ಕತ್ತಾ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು “ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕಳಪೆ” ದಿನಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಮುಂಬೈ ೨೦೨೨-೨೩ರ ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ’ಉತ್ತಮ’ ದಿನಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮತ್ತು ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಚಳಿಗಾಲದ ಗರಿಷ್ಠ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ ಕಳೆದ ನಾಲ್ಕು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕೆಟ್ಟದಾಗಿದೆ.”ಇತರ ಬೃಹತ್ ನಗರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿರುವ ಚಳಿಗಾಲದ ವಾಯುಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಬೀರಿದೆ ಎಂದು ವರದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದೆ. ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯದ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿದ್ದು ಅನುಕೂಲಕರವಾದ ಹವಾಮಾನ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರಬಹುದು, ಆದರೆ ಅವುಗಳ ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ ನಗರ ಸರಾಸರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ಥಳಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಮಟ್ಟಗಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಾನ್ಯತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಉಂಟುಮಾಡಬಹುದು,” ಎಂದು ಸಿಎಸ್ಇಯ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಾಹಕ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಅನುಮಿತಾ ರಾಯ್ ಚೌಧರಿ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಚಳಿಗಾಲದ ಅವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ ೧-ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ ೨೮ರವೆಗೆ ದೆಹಲಿ, ಕೋಲ್ಕತ್ತಾ-ಹೌರಾ, ಮುಂಬೈ, ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್, ಬಂಗಾಳ ಮತ್ತು ಚೆನ್ನೈಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಡೇಟಾದ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆಯು ಹಿಂದಿನದಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿದರೆ ಐದು ಮಹಾನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿಯಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಈ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹೊರಹಾಕಲಾಗಿದೆ.
NEW DELHI: Delhi has managed to bend its seasonal pollution curve by recording a slight improvement in air quality but pollution is on the rise in most other mega cities. During 2022-23 winter, Kolkata and Mumbai were the most polluted after the national capital while Bengaluru and Chennai saw the fastest worsening of hazardous pollutant levels, said the Centre for Science and Environment in its analysis of real time particulate matter (PM2.5) data of six cities for October-February period. The CSE report, released on Tuesday, said all mega cities, irrespective of their locations in different geo-climatic zones, faced the challenge of worsening PM2.5 levels during the winter of 2022-23. While levels in Delhi had been the highest, the remaining cities had experienced very poor to worsening trends. Capture 4 Data show if Delhi is excluded, Kolkata had the highest number of “very poor” AQI days while Mumbai had the least number of ‘good’ AQI days in 2022-23 winter. Peak winter pollution in Bengaluru and Hyderabad was the worst in last four years. “The rising winter air pollution in other mega cities does not get adequate attention. These cities located outside the northern plains may have more favourable meteorological conditions to contain the peaking of pollution during winters, but their overall city average and levels across locations can cause very high exposures,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE. Analysis of PM2.5 data in Delhi, Kolkata-Howrah, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai for the winter period (October 1-February 28) shows the five megacities registered higher seasonal PM2.5 average this winter compared to the previous one. This was in contrast to Delhi which registered its least polluted winter compared to previous four winters. The report shows Delhi, with a winter average PM2.5 level of 151 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m³) remains the most polluted mega city. But in the other five mega cities, average PM2.5 levels this winter stood at 84 g/m³ for Kolkata (including Howrah) and 77 g/m³ for Mumbai – both higher than the 24-hour standard for PM2.5. Hyderabad’s winter average of 59 g/m³ was just under the standard. Though Bengaluru with 44 g/m³ and Chennai with 42 g/m³ were under the 24-hour standard, both the cities breeched the annual standard for PM2.5.
The winter of 2022 was Delhi’s “cleanest” in the last five years, though its air remains “toxic”. The main determinants for the improved air quality were favourable meteorological conditions as well as a reduction in pollution from farm fires, Delhi-based think tank, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said in a report on Monday. The city-wide winter average for Delhi stood at 160 µg/m³ in the winter that spans from October to January. This was the lowest since wide scale monitoring started in 2018-19, and the number refers to PM (particulate matter) 2.5 level, computed by averaging monitoring data from 36 CAAQMS (Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations). PM 2.5 particles are linked to respiratory illnesses and responsible for reducing the quality of life. “This improvement is a combined effect of meteorology and emergency action based on pollution forecasting. There was heavy and extended rainfall in the early phases of the season that prevented smog episodes from building up and also lowered the seasonal average. Despite the decline, Delhi continues to remain the most polluted among the cities and towns of NCR. This downward trend will have to be sustained with much stronger action on vehicles, industry, waste burning, construction, solid fuel and bio mass burning to meet the clean air standard,” the organisation said in a press statement. There was also a decline in peak pollution. This winter, the most polluted day saw the air quality index soar to 401 µg/m³ on November 3 — a five year low. Three of the last five years saw the peak cross 500, with the most being 546 in 2019. To be sure, a value exceeding 400 is still classified as an episode of ‘severe’ pollution. India’s National Ambient Air Quality standards prescribes that the 24-hour PM 2.5 concentration not breach 60 µg/m³. The CSE’s numbers, sourced from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), suggest that a factor behind reduced pollution last winter was a drop in instances of ‘severe pollution’. There were only 10 days when air quality was ‘severe’ or ‘severe+’ — the highest levels of pollution. In comparison, there were 24 such days in 2021, 23 in 2020, 25 in 2019, and 33 in 2018. This winter not only saw a lowering in the quantity and intensity of farm stubble fires but also favourable meteorological conditions that were less conducive for the transport of the smoke. Total smoke that fell upon Delhi in from of PM2.5 has been considerably lesser. CSE estimated that about As many as 4.1 tonnes of PM2.5 fell over Delhi in the ’22 winter in the form of smoke --37 per cent lessethan 6.4 tonne that fell in 2021 and almost half of that in 2020. “The analysis shows that there were still 10 days of severe and severe-plus air quality and one four-day long smog episode during this winter. In the larger NCR, seasonal averages varied considerably among the cities and towns, but high pollution episodes were synchronised despite large distances,” Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE, said in a statement, “ Delhi and the neighbouring cities of Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida were relatively more polluted than other NCR towns, though not significantly. This is the challenge of this landlocked region that demands even stronger action.”
NEW DELHI: According to the latest analysis of air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), this winter saw the cleanest air in the Delhi-NCR region since large-scale monitoring started in 2018. The concentration of air pollutants in Delhi stood at 160 micrograms per cubic meter for the October-January period, which is the lowest level recorded since wide-scale monitoring started in 2018-19, the leading think tank said in its report. "The PM2.5 level, computed by averaging monitoring data from 36 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) stations located in the city was 17 per cent lower compared to the seasonal average of 2018-19 winter. Based on the subset of the 10 oldest stations, there is an improvement of almost 20 per cent," the CSE report said. It also said that the number of days with severe or severe-plus air quality was the lowest in the last five years. "This winter, around 10 days had a city-wide average in 'severe' or worse AQI category, which is much lower compared to 24 such days in the previous winter and 33 in the 2018-19 winter," the report said. According to CSE, the city also recorded five days of good air this year which is an improvement over the last winter which had recorded one "good" AQI day, whereas, earlier winters did not record any "good" air quality days. Farm stubble fires this winter were about half of the last winter as the total count of stubble fires reported this year from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in October and November stood at 55,846 (according to NASA's VIIRS satellite) and 12,158 (according to MODIS satellite) respectively. "These are respectively 36 per cent and 40 per cent lower than the figures for October-January in 2021-22. If the FRP (fire radiative power which is the measure of the intensity of fire) is taken into account in addition to the number of fires, it becomes clear that not only were the fires lesser in count, but also lower in intensity compared to the previous two years," the CSE report said. It also said that fires have been lower between October 2022 and January 2023, both in count and intensity, compared to the previous two seasons, but are marginally higher compared to the 2019-20 season. "The spike seen in the fires since the beginning of the pandemic has ended and the situation has reverted to a pre-pandemic scenario. This is a relatively better scenario, but we are still far from attaining our clean air objectives," the report said. The quantity of smoke from farm stubble fires affecting Delhi is dependent upon two major factors - quantity and intensity of farm stubble fires and meteorological conditions conducive for transportation of the smoke to Delhi. This winter, not only the quantity and intensity of farm stubble fires have been low, but also the meteorological conditions have been less conducive for the transport of the smoke and as a result, the total smoke that fell upon Delhi in the form of PM2.5 has been considerably less. The CSE estimates that about 4.1 tonnes of PM2.5 affected Delhi this winter in the form of smoke, which is 37 per cent less than the 6.4 tonnes last year and almost half of the 2020-21 winter figure. However, the report also mentioned that even though there has been a significant decline in peak pollution levels, air in NCR continues to remain toxic. "In comparison to the other NCR cities, Delhi was the most polluted city followed by Greater Noida this winter. "Among the five big NCR cities, Ghaziabad registered the highest improvement in its winter PM2.5 level with a reduction of 23 per cent compared to the previous winter average. Noida (17 per cent), Faridabad (12 per cent) and Gurugram (6 per cent) also registered improvements in air quality, but it worsened for Greater Noida (-3 per cent)," the CSE analysis report said. About the way forward, the CSE said clean fuels and emissions control systems are needed in the industries. It also said that massive electrification of the vehicle fleet and scaling up of integrated public transport options with vehicle restraint measures are also needed. "The only way to prevent the high peaks and smog episodes during winter is to ensure sustained improvement in air quality to meet the national ambient air quality standard across the region. "This requires region-wide implementation of urban greening and dust control, waste management based on 100 per cent segregation, material recovery and zero landfill policy," the report said. Clean construction and recycling of construction and demolition waste, and replacement of solid fuels in households are some other measures that the CSE suggested to prevent the high peaks of pollution in NCR.
This winter saw the cleanest air in the Delhi-NCR region since large-scale monitoring started in 2018, according to the latest analysis of air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The concentration of air pollutants in Delhi stood at 160 micrograms per cubic meter for the October-January period, which is the lowest level recorded since wide-scale monitoring started in 2018-19, the leading think tank said in its report. “The PM2.5 level, computed by averaging monitoring data from 36 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) stations located in the city was 17 per cent lower compared to the seasonal average of 2018-19 winter. Based on the subset of the 10 oldest stations, there is an improvement of almost 20 per cent,” the CSE report said. Powered By VDO.AI It also said that the number of days with severe or severe-plus air quality was the lowest in the last five years. “This winter, around 10 days had a city-wide average in ‘severe’ or worse AQI category, which is much lower compared to 24 such days in the previous winter and 33 in the 2018-19 winter,” the report said. According to CSE, the city also recorded five days of good air this year which is an improvement over the last winter which had recorded one “good” AQI day, whereas, earlier winters did not record any “good” air quality days. Farm stubble fires this winter were about half of the last winter as the total count of stubble fires reported this year from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in October and November stood at 55,846 (according to NASA’s VIIRS satellite) and 12,158 (according to MODIS satellite) respectively. “These are respectively 36 per cent and 40 per cent lower than the figures for October-January in 2021-22. If the FRP (fire radiative power which is the measure of the intensity of fire) is taken into account in addition to the number of fires, it becomes clear that not only were the fires lesser in count, but also lower in intensity compared to the previous two years,” the CSE report said. It also said that fires have been lower between October 2022 and January 2023, both in count and intensity, compared to the previous two seasons, but are marginally higher compared to the 2019-20 season. “The spike seen in the fires since the beginning of the pandemic has ended and the situation has reverted to a pre-pandemic scenario. This is a relatively better scenario, but we are still far from attaining our clean air objectives,” the report said. The quantity of smoke from farm stubble fires affecting Delhi is dependent upon two major factors – quantity and intensity of farm stubble fires and meteorological conditions conducive for transportation of the smoke to Delhi. This winter, not only the quantity and intensity of farm stubble fires have been low, but also the meteorological conditions have been less conducive for the transport of the smoke and as a result, the total smoke that fell upon Delhi in the form of PM2.5 has been considerably less. The CSE estimates that about 4.1 tonnes of PM2.5 affected Delhi this winter in the form of smoke, which is 37 per cent less than the 6.4 tonnes last year and almost half of the 2020-21 winter figure. However, the report also mentioned that even though there has been a significant decline in peak pollution levels, air in NCR continues to remain toxic. “In comparison to the other NCR cities, Delhi was the most polluted city followed by Greater Noida this winter. “Among the five big NCR cities, Ghaziabad registered the highest improvement in its winter PM2.5 level with a reduction of 23 per cent compared to the previous winter average. Noida (17 per cent), Faridabad (12 per cent) and Gurugram (6 per cent) also registered improvements in air quality, but it worsened for Greater Noida (-3 per cent),” the CSE analysis report said. About the way forward, the CSE said clean fuels and emissions control systems are needed in the industries. It also said that massive electrification of the vehicle fleet and scaling up of integrated public transport options with vehicle restraint measures are also needed. “The only way to prevent the high peaks and smog episodes during winter is to ensure sustained improvement in air quality to meet the national ambient air quality standard across the region. “This requires region-wide implementation of urban greening and dust control, waste management based on 100 per cent segregation, material recovery and zero landfill policy,” the report said. Clean construction and recycling of construction and demolition waste, and replacement of solid fuels in households are some other measures that the CSE suggested to prevent the high peaks of pollution in NCR. PTI ABU ABU RT RT