• Urban Lab

The coming days may prove to be dangerous! There may be a huge increase in the level of pollution in Delhi

With the onset of winters and the festive season, the air quality in Delhi has started deteriorating. The national capital has been witnessing poor air quality for the past few days and it is likely to get worse. The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) said that this year Diwali is being celebrated at such a time. New Delhi. With the arrival of winter, the people of Delhi start suffocating. The stubble burnt in Punjab Haryana becomes one of the main causes of pollution in Delhi. The government has imposed many restrictions to control pollution in Delhi. If anyone is found burning firecrackers on Diwali, action will be taken against him. At the same time, restrictions have also been imposed on factories being run using coal.

• Urban Lab

Can Delhi breathe easy this Diwali?

Delhi, the world’s most polluted city, is seeing a slight decline in pollution this year compared to pollution numbers pre-pandemic, a new study has found. The study probed pollution levels across seven consecutive pre-winters and winters and found a tiny dip in PM 2.5 concentration in Delhi’s air. The report, released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an India-based green think tank says PM 2.5 concentration levels, which used to hover around 180-190 microgram per cubic metre between October to February pre-pandemic, have come down to 150-160 microgram per cubic metre since then. Breathing better The CSE study is based on real-time data from 81 air quality monitoring stations in the region. · Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, part of the National Capital Region (NCR) saw the greatest improvement in PM 2.5 concentration – 30%. · Greater Noida saw a 28% decline in PM 2.5 concentration, Noida 23%, Faridabad 16% and Delhi 12%. · Gurugram, with 11% improvement, was the worst performer in this regard. Peak pollution, the worst 24-hour average, used to surpass 800 microgram per cubic metre at individual air quality monitoring stations before the pandemic. “It has been hovering in the 700-800 microgram per cubic metre range during the last three winters,” says the report. The winter of 2021-22 was less polluted as compared to 2020-21 for most NCR cities. But not breathing easy While the study does point to an improvement in air quality, the numbers are hardly big enough to make a significant difference. Ghaziabad, which saw the greatest improvement, still has a PM 2.5-level two-and-half times over the 24-hour standard, the report said.

• Urban Lab

PM2.5 pollution in Delhi in July-September 2nd lowest in 5 years: CSE

According to the Center’s analysis, the average PM2.5 pollution in Delhi in the July-August-September quarter of this year was 37 micrograms per cubic meter, only slightly above the five-year low of 36 micrograms per cubic meter recorded in 2020. Science and Environment (CSE). Pollution levels in July-August-September were preceded by one of the most polluted summer this year, as opposed to 2020 when the trimester followed the cleanest summer ever (March-May) due to extraordinary conditions created by severe pandemic blockages, green think tank said. “So it’s important to understand what helped clean the air in Delhi. Looking at the rainfall data, it becomes clear that the distribution of rainfall has a relatively greater impact on seasonal air quality than the absolute amount of rainfall, ‘he said. There were 45 rainy days in July, August and September this year, compared to just 39 rainy days in last year’s quarter. “These six extra rainy days helped keep the seasonal average low, even though the total rainfall in this monsoon was only a third of the previous monsoon,” said CSE. Those extra rainy days also pushed the days of bad air to start on a regular basis in October, he said. The average PM2.5 for the quarter was 38 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, 41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019 and 43 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018. The CSE said on Thursday that Delhi’s average PM2.5 pollution during the winter season dropped by about 20 percent compared to the pre-pandemic period. The concentration of PM2.5 for the winter (October 1 to February 28) before the pandemic was around 180-190 micrograms per cubic meter. It has since dropped to 150-160 micrograms per cubic meter.

• Urban Lab

Air pollution for July-September quarter at second lowest in five years in Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment

Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution average for the July-August-September quarter this year stood at 37 micrograms per cubic metre, only marginally higher than the five-year low of 36 micrograms per cubic metre recorded during 2020, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment. Pollution levels in the July-August-September quarter were preceded by one of the most polluted summers this year, unlike in 2020 when the trimester followed the cleanest ever summer (March-May) due to extraordinary conditions created because of hard pandemic lockdowns, the green think tank said. “Therefore, it is important to understand what aided in cleaning up the Delhi air. Looking at the rainfall data it becomes evident that distribution of rainfall has a relatively higher impact on seasonal air quality than the absolute quantity of rainfall,” it said.

• Urban Lab

दिल्ली में जुलाई-सितंबर तिमाही में ‘पीएम2.5’ प्रदूषण पांच वर्षों में दूसरे सबसे निचले स्तर पर:सीएसई

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवायरन्मेंट (सीएसई) के एक विश्लेषण में कहा गया है कि दिल्ली में 2.5पीएम (हवा में मौजूद 2.5 माइक्रोमीटर व्यास से कम आकार के सूक्ष्म कणों) प्रदूषण का स्तर इस साल जुलाई-अगस्त-सितंबर तिमाही में औसत 37 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर रहा। यह 2020 के दौरान दर्ज किये गये 36 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर के पांच वर्षों के सबसे निचले स्तर से आंशिक रूप से अधिक है।

• Urban Lab

Delhi: पांच साल में जुलाई-सितंबर तिमाही में PM2.5 प्रदूषण दूसरी बार न्यूनतम स्तर पर, सीएसई की रिपोर्ट

दिल्ली में बीते पांच साल में जुलाई-सितंबर तिमाही में PM2.5 प्रदूषण दूसरी बार न्यूनतम स्तर पर रहा। विज्ञान और पर्यावरण केंद्र द्वारा किए एक विश्लेषण की रिपोर्ट में ये बात सामने आई है। इसमें बीते दिनों हुई बारिश ने भी अहम भूमिका निभाई है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, इस साल जुलाई-अगस्त-सितंबर तिमाही के लिए दिल्ली का PM2.5 प्रदूषण औसत 37 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक मीटर था। वहीं साल 2020 के दौरान PM2.5 का स्तर 36 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक मीटर दर्ज किया गया था। तुलनात्मक रूप से इस साल मामूली रूप में इसमें वृद्धि जरूर देखी गई, लेकिन बीते पांच साल में ये दूसरी बार निचले स्तर पर रहा।

• Urban Lab

आने वाले दिन साबित हो सकते हैं खतरनाक! प्रदूषण के स्तर में दिख सकती है भारी वृद्धि

CSE के मुताबिक महामारी के बाद इस ठंड के शुरुआत तक प्रदूषण का स्तर ... https://www.aajtak.in/india/news/story/pollution-level-may-increase-in-delhi-ncr-punjab-and-haryana-due-to-stubble-burning-and-diwali-lbsa-1560108-2022-10-21

• Urban Lab

Delhi Pollution News: दिल्ली में दिवाली से पहले राहत वाली खबर, 5 सालों में दूसरी बार सबसे निचले स्तर पर प्रदूषण

नई दिल्ली: दिवाली के बाद देश की राजधानी दिल्ली की आबोहवा और एयर क्वालिटी कितनी प्रभावित होगी। इस चिंता के बीच एयर पलूशन से जुड़ी एक रिपोर्ट सामने आई है, जो राहत देने वाली है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवायरन्मेंट (CSI) के एक विश्लेषण में कहा गया है कि दिल्ली में 2.5 पीएम प्रदूषण का स्तर इस साल जुलाई-अगस्त-सितंबर तिमाही में औसत 37 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर रहा। यह 2020 के दौरान दर्ज किये गये 36 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर के पांच वर्षों के सबसे निचले स्तर से आंशिक रूप से अधिक है।

• Urban Lab

के मुकाबले 20 प्रतिशत घटा दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण

जानकारी के मुताबिक महामारी से पहले सर्दियों के दौरान पीएम 2.5 सांद्रता प्रति घन मीटर 180 से 190 माइक्रोग्राम तक बढ़ जाती थी, लेकिन इस रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि पीएम 2.5 सांद्रता अब घटकर प्रति घन मीटर 150 से 160 माइक्रोग्राम तक रह गई है। वायु प्रदूषण में हुआ हल्का सुधार सीएसई की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रायचौधरी ने कहा कि रिपोर्ट का मकसद वायु प्रदूषण के रुझान को समझना है। कारण, सुधार के बावजूद इस मौसम का औसत अब भी 24 घंटों के मानक स्तर (60 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर) के मुकाबले 150 प्रतिशत अधिक है और यह करीब- करीब वार्षिक मानक स्तर (40 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर) का चार गुना है।

• Urban Lab

Delhi Pollution 2022: कोविड-19 से पहले के मुकाबले 20 प्रतिशत घटा दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण

दिल्ली में सर्दियों के दौरान औसत पीएम 2.5 प्रदूषण कोविड-19 से पहले के मुकाबले 20 प्रतिशत घट गया है। यह दावा सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा ताजा जारी नई रिपोर्ट में किया गया है। आकलन के दौरान दिल्ली और राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) में एक जनवरी 2015 से लगातार सर्दी के सात सीजन व सर्दी पूर्व के रुझानों को शामिल किया गया है। यह रिपोर्ट इस क्षेत्र के सक्रिय 81 वायु गणवत्ता निगरानी स्टेशन से उपलब्ध रियल टाइम डाटा पर आधारित है।

• Industrial Pollution

CO2 emissions from iron and steel sector can be reduced ‘drastically by 2030’: CSE

It is “possible to bring down” carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the iron and steel sector “drastically by 2030” while tripling India’s output of steel, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Greenhouse gas emissions will grow 2.5 times by 2030 as compared to 2020-21, based on the production and technologies used, the analysis done by the non-profit showed. “As per emission targets set by the National Steel Policy 2017, a reduction of 12.5 per cent (82 million tonne) is possible from the business as usual (BAU) scenario. Based on voluntary targets by large steel companies, a reduction of 22.5 per cent (148 million tonne) from the BAU scenario can be aimed for,” the analysis said. The new study by CSE has recommended a fuel change – in the use of natural-gas injection or hydrogen to reduce the use of coal, along with increasing the amount of recycled steel in production to its optimum of 30 per cent. “The industry should implement carbon capture and utilization to bring down coal-based emissions. Switching to new fuels and technologies will require international finance. The government and steel industry should work towards a combined proposal for climate finance with touch targets for 2030,” the study said. The CSE research said the coal-based technology (mostly in use in the small- and medium-scale sectors) is contributing almost 51 per cent of the total GHG emissions from the sector in India as of 2020-21. “In the iron and steel sector, the manufacturing process determines the amount of CO2 an industrial unit will produce. Coal is key to the production of iron in a blast furnace, and well as for making steel through a basic oxygen furnace. This makes the sector hard to decarbonise as roughly half of India’s iron and steel is produced through this route,” the CSE research said. Referring to the new assessment report on emissions footprints of India’s iron and steel sector and how it can be ‘decarbonised’, Director General of CSE Sunita Narai said, “We can emit even less than what we do today – but all this will need planning, technology and funds.” Narain pointed out that there is an “opportunity for financial infusion” for making low-carbon steel – predicting a significant role in international climate finance. “The government should work on a package that involves a cleaner fuel like gas and improves the circularity of the recycled steel business by promoting optimum usage of steel scrap as a raw material,” she said. PTI ABU RDT

• Urban Lab

Delhi air pollution in early winter down 20% compared to pre-Covid: Report

The report also states that the onset of winter has been much cleaner this year due to the rains which were witnessed in September and October The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday said the air pollution in Delhi this winter has seen a significant decline of 20 per cent, compared to the pre-Covid era. The report comes at a time when the national capital has been marking poor on the Air Quality Index (AQI) for a week. Fine particulate matter or PM2.5 is an air pollutant that becomes a cause of concern for people's health when its levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air which reduces visibility and causing the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated. In a report, CSE stated that the onset of winter, which began on October 1, has been much cleaner this year due to the rainfall in September and October. However, the intensity of the early winter pollution will depend a lot on the trend in the crop fires along with the impact of Diwali. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, said the intensity of the winter pollution and severity of smog episodes will depend on the effectiveness of the long term multi-sector action so far in the entire region of Delhi and NCR and also on the enforceability of the short term emergency action. The assessment captured seven successive winters and pre-winter trends, starting from January 1, 2015 in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It is based on real time data, which is available from the 81 operational air quality monitoring stations in the region. The PM2.5 concentration for winter (October 1 to February 28) used to hover around 180-190 microgram per cubic metre before the pandemic. It has, however, come down to 150-160 microgram per cubic metre since then, the report said. However, with Diwali being just round the corner, concerns are once again being flagged regarding the rise in the pollution levels, owing to the smog episodes and the burning of fire crackers. Both Centre and the Delhi government are working to reduce air pollution. While a meeting was held on October 19 to review the crop residue management plan, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai has warned the residents of a strict action on bursting of firecrackers. The Delhi government has also imposed a fine of Rs 200 for bursting firecrackers along with six months in jail. Arvind Kejriwal-led government has started spraying bio-decomposers in the fields to prevent incidents of stubble burning and bring in more anti-smog guns, which have been mandated at smaller construction sites of 5,000 sqm or more. On Thursday, Supreme Court asked people to spend their money on sweets, instead of firecrackers this Diwali, while rejecting BJP MP Manoj Tiwari's petition challenging the blanket ban on firecrackers.

• Urban Lab

Farm stubble fires of Punjab-Haryana-Delhi have increased in numbers, intensity: Centre for Science and Environment

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has issued an early winter pollution alert and stated that farm stubble fires of Punjab-Haryana-Delhi have increased in numbers and intensity. Delhi’s seasonal winter PM2.5 average improved during the pandemic, but it stagnated post-pandemic. As Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) brace for the upcoming winter, it remains to be seen if the seasonal average of PM2.5 during winter -- that had improved during the pandemic but had stagnated post-pandemic -- will further bend or increase. This winter season is also starting from a much cleaner benchmark due to rains in September and October. The Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Urban Lab has released its winter pollution assessment – the objective, says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, has been “to understand the trend and the starting line of the onset of the winter pollution season or pre-winter levels in this region. Farm stubble fires of Punjab-Haryana-Delhi are increasing both in numbers and intensity. Last year registered the highest instances of farm stubble fire in the last seven years -- 2021 October-November saw a 10 per cent jump in observed fire count by MODIS and 5 per cent increase by VIIRS compared to 2020 October-November. Similarly, the total fire radiative power from these fires was 13 per cent and 7 per cent higher compared to the 2020 fires as observed by MODIS and VIIRS respectively.

• Urban Lab

Air pollution for July-September quarter at second lowest in five years in Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment

There were 45 rainy days in July, August, and September this year compared to just 39 rainy days in the same period last year. These six extra rainy days helped keep the seasonal average low despite total rainfall this monsoon having been just one-third of the previous monsoon Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution average for the July-August-September quarter this year stood at 37 micrograms per cubic metre, only marginally higher than the five-year low of 36 micrograms per cubic metre recorded during 2020, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment. Pollution levels in the July-August-September quarter were preceded by one of the most polluted summers this year, unlike in 2020 when the trimester followed the cleanest ever summer (March-May) due to extraordinary conditions created because of hard pandemic lockdowns, the green think tank said. “Therefore, it is important to understand what aided in cleaning up the Delhi air. Looking at the rainfall data it becomes evident that distribution of rainfall has a relatively higher impact on seasonal air quality than the absolute quantity of rainfall,” it said. There have been 45 rainy days in July, August, and September this year as compared to just 39 rainy days in the quarter last year. “These six extra rainy days helped keep the seasonal average low despite total rainfall this monsoon having been just one-third of the previous monsoon,” the CSE said. These additional rainy days also pushed the regular start of bad air quality days further down the month of October, it said. The PM2.5 average for the quarter stood at 38 micrograms per cubic metre in 2021, 41 micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 and 43 micrograms per cubic metre in 2018. The CSE had on Thursday said the average PM2.5 pollution in Delhi in the winter season has declined by about 20 per cent as compared to the pre-pandemic period. The PM2.5 concentration for winter (1 October to 1 February) used to hover around 180-190 micrograms per cubic metre before the pandemic. It has come down to 150-160 micrograms per cubic metre since then, it said. However, the seasonal average is still over 150 per cent above the 24-hour standard (60 micrograms per cubic metre) and almost four times the annual standard (40 micrograms per cubic metre) despite the improvement, the green think tank noted. What is PM2.5? PM2.5 means Particulate Matter 2.5. There are particles in the air that are two and one-half microns or less in width. Microns are a unit of distance like inches and meters, but so tiny that an inch can fit around 25,000 microns. Particles in this size range can reach deep inside our respiratory tract, to the lungs. How does PM2.5 affect health? Exposure to such fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. This can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

• Urban Lab

Delhi PM2.5 pollution in winters has dipped 20 pc compared to pre-pandemic period: CSE

The average PM2.5 pollution in Delhi in the winter season has declined by about 20 per cent as compared to the pre-pandemic period, according to a new report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday. It also said Diwali this year is being observed early in the season "which means the warmer and windier conditions will help dilute the pollution that is staple of Diwali night celebrations". However, concentrated stubble burning due to prolonged rains (in September end and October) may compound the problem. The assessment captured seven successive winters and pre-winter trends, starting from January 1, 2015 in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It is based on real time data available from the 81 operational air quality monitoring stations in the region.

• Urban Lab

दिल्ली में कोरोना काल से पहले के मुकाबले 20 प्रतिशत कम हुआ प्रदूषण: रिपोर्ट

सीएसई की रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि इस इस साल भी सर्दियों के सीजन की शुरुआ... https://www.aajtak.in/india/delhi/story/delhi-pollution-in-winters-has-dipped-20-percent-compared-to-pre-pandemic-period-says-cse-1560308-2022-10-20