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Sustainable Mobility

Vehicular emissions greatest contributor to air pollution ranges in Delhi: Evaluation

The CSE evaluation famous that autos contribution has been half or extra in the course of the examine interval Delhi air air pollution: Though there are numerous elements chargeable for the air pollution degree in Delhi, vehicular emissions are mentioned to be the most important contributor to Delhi’s PM 2.5 ranges, by way of native sources of air pollution. This evaluation got here from the Centres for Science and Surroundings (CSE) and is predicated on knowledge for each alternate hour from october 24 to November 8. The information is sourced from the Resolution Assist System (DSS) developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. It has been analysed to find out completely different sources of air pollution ranges chargeable for air pollution in Delhi. The CSE evaluation famous that autos contribution has been half or extra in the course of the examine interval. Anumita Roychowdhury, government director, Analysis and Advocacy, CSE, who was a part of the crew that carried out the evaluation mentioned this determine could be round 50-53 per cent. As per the evaluation, the contribution of family air pollution stood at 12.5-13.5 per cent and of trade’s, it stood at 9.9-13.7 per cent. The contribution of building stood at 6.7-7.9 per cent whereas waste burning air pollution was at 4.6-4.9 per cent. The contribution of street mud stood at 3.6-4.1 per cent. The biomass burning air pollution from different states remained low throughout pre-Diwali instances however soared publish Diwali. Transport winds additionally introduced in pollution from biomass burning in different states. The evaluation additionally famous that nitrogen dioxide ranges improve within the setting when site visitors congestion will increase, and journey velocity reduces. On November 5, the NO2 degree was near 70 µg/m3 between 6 pm and seven pm, up from 40 µg/m3, between 2 pm and three pm. Peak hours within the night in Delhi NCR are normally between 6 pm and eight pm. Google Map knowledge was analysed for 15 main roads in Delhi and the journey time and velocity alongside these roads.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi-NCR Witnesses Season’s Worst AQI At 471 As Thick, Toxic Smog Engulfs Region

The eye-stinging smog also lowered visibility to 200 metres at several places in Delhi-NCR, which has been witnessing hazardous pollution levels since early November. New Delhi: Air pollution in Delhi-NCR worsened on Friday as the toxic smog grew thicker and the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 471 by 4pm in the evening. The eye-stinging smog also lowered visibility to 200 metres at several places in the region, which has been witnessing hazardous pollution levels since early November. At 471, Delhi recorded the worst AQI of the season. It was 411 on Thursday. Over 4,000 farm fires accounted for 35 per cent of Delhi’s pollution on Friday. The city has recorded severe air quality on six of the last eight days after Diwali. People in the national capital breathe the worst air between November 1 and November 15 every year, according to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Faridabad (460), Ghaziabad (486), Greater Noida (478), Gurugram (448) and Noida (488) also recorded severe air quality at 4 pm. 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”. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average concentration of lung-damaging fine particles known as PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR crossed the 300 mark around midnight and stood at 381 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 pm (Friday), more than six times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre. The PM10 level was recorded at 577 micrograms per cubic metre. According to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the air quality is considered to be in the emergency category if the PM2.5 and PM10 levels continue to be above 300 micrograms per cubic metre and 500 micrograms per cubic metre respectively for 48 hours or more. ALSO READ | Visibility In Delhi To Remain Poor For Next 3 Due To Smog: IMD Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said moderate fog and low temperatures in the morning — Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 12.6 degrees Celsius on Friday — and calm winds have been trapping pollutants close to the ground. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. A Rapid Metro train makes its way amid low visibility due to a thick layer of smog, in Gurugram, Friday. (PTI) “Visibility levels at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and the Safdarjung Airport dropped to 200-500 metres due to moderate fog. It (fog) has intensified on Friday due to high humidity,” an official said. Green think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had Wednesday said the ongoing smog episode is a public health emergency and could be the longest in four years. The longer duration of this year’s smog, despite relatively windier local conditions, might be due to a lack of pollution control measures in the city, the CSE had said in a report. In another report, it said vehicles accounted for more than 50 per cent of Delhi’s pollution during the early phase of this year’s winter, from October 24 to November 8. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality forecasting agency SAFAR, stubble burning has accounted for at least 25 per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution for nine days on the trot, starting November 4.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Smog tightens grip on Delhi-NCR; AQI season"s worst at 471

The layer of eye-stinging smog lingering over Delhi-NCR thickened on Friday, giving an orange tint to the sun and lowering visibility to 200 metres at several places in the region reeling under hazardous pollution levels since early November. Over 4,000 farm fires, which accounted for 35 per cent of Delhi"s pollution on Friday, played a major role in pushing the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) to 471 by 4 pm, the worst this season so far. It was 411 on Thursday. The city has recorded severe air quality on six of the last eight days after Diwali. According to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), people in the national capital breathe the worst air between November 1 and November 15 every year. Faridabad (460), Ghaziabad (486), Greater Noida (478), Gurugram (448) and Noida (488) also recorded severe air quality at 4 pm. 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". According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average concentration of lung-damaging fine particles known as PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR crossed the 300 mark around midnight and stood at 381 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 pm (Friday), more than six times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre. The PM10 level was recorded at 577 micrograms per cubic metre. According to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the air quality is considered to be in the emergency category if the PM2.5 and PM10 levels continue to be above 300 micrograms per cubic metre and 500 micrograms per cubic metre respectively for 48 hours or more. Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said moderate fog and low temperatures in the morning -- Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 12.6 degrees Celsius on Friday -- and calm winds have been trapping pollutants close to the ground. "Visibility levels at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and the Safdarjung Airport dropped to 200-500 metres due to moderate fog. It (fog) has intensified on Friday due to high humidity," an official said. Green think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had Wednesday said the ongoing smog episode is a public health emergency and could be the longest in four years. The longer duration of this year"s smog, despite relatively windier local conditions, might be due to a lack of pollution control measures in the city, the CSE had said in a report. In another report, it said vehicles accounted for more than 50 per cent of Delhi"s pollution during the early phase of this year"s winter, from October 24 to November 8. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences" air quality forecasting agency SAFAR, stubble burning has accounted for at least 25 per cent of Delhi"s PM2.5 pollution for nine days on the trot, starting November 4. Gufran Beig, the founder project director of SAFAR, said stubble burning generally contributes in PM2.5 but this time its coarser particles in PM10 are also becoming a lead pollutant at several locations in Delhi. "This is a new feature in winter period. This is mainly because of particle growth mechanism due to high humidity at night and increased humidity during the day probably due to water sprinkling which also increases the holding capacity of the air. Since flow is regular many PM2.5 particles are growing towards PM10 (sic),” he said. The share of farm fires in Delhi"s pollution had increased to 48 per cent on Sunday, the highest since November 5, 2018, when it was recorded at 58 per cent. Last year, the share of stubble burning in Delhi"s pollution had peaked at 42 per cent on November 5. In 2019, crop residue burning accounted for 44 per cent of Delhi"s PM2.5 pollution on November 1. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Friday launched the second leg of a campaign to control dust pollution. On Thursday, he had launched a month-long campaign to prevent open burning of waste and biomass in the city in a bid to further cut down pollution from local sources. PTI GVS SMN SMN

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

दिल्ली में मौसम की पहली घनी धुंध, 4 सालों में सबसे लंबे समय तक बने रहने का अनुमान

पिछले चार वर्षों की धुंध की पहली घटना की तुलना करने पर मौजूदा धुंध 2018 और 2020 की पहली धुंध की अवधि से मिलती है जो छह दिनों तक रही थी। अगर परिस्थितियों में सुधार नहीं होता है तो यह 2019 की धुंध से भी अधिक समय तक रह सकती है जो आठ दिनों तक रही थी। नई दिल्ली: दिल्ली और राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र में मौसम की पहली घनी धुंध छा गई है और इसके दो और दिनों तक रहने की आशंका है। विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र (CSE) ने बुधवार को यह जानकारी दी। हालांकि, दिल्ली में मौसमी धुंध घनी है लेकिन अक्टूबर के मध्य से आठ नवंबर तक पराली जलाने से होने वाले धुएं का औसत दैनिक योगदान पिछले चार वर्षों में सबसे कम रहा है। सीएसई में अनुसंधान की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी ने कहा, ‘‘जाहिर तौर पर मौसम की प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों (ठंडी और शांत हवाओं) के संयुक्त असर, पराली और पटाखे जलाने से मौसम की धुंध छा गई है।’’ सीएसई ने बताया कि पिछले चार वर्षों की धुंध की पहली घटना की तुलना करने पर मौजूदा धुंध 2018 और 2020 की पहली धुंध की अवधि से मिलती है जो छह दिनों तक रही थी। अगर परिस्थितियों में सुधार नहीं होता है तो यह 2019 की धुंध से भी अधिक समय तक रह सकती है जो आठ दिनों तक रही थी। दिल्ली में मौसम की पहली घनी धुंध, 4 सालों में सबसे लंबे समय तक बने रहने का अनुमान पिछले चार वर्षों की धुंध की पहली घटना की तुलना करने पर मौजूदा धुंध 2018 और 2020 की पहली धुंध की अवधि से मिलती है जो छह दिनों तक रही थी। अगर परिस्थितियों में सुधार नहीं होता है तो यह 2019 की धुंध से भी अधिक समय तक रह सकती है जो आठ दिनों तक रही थी। नई दिल्ली: दिल्ली और राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र में मौसम की पहली घनी धुंध छा गई है और इसके दो और दिनों तक रहने की आशंका है। विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र (CSE) ने बुधवार को यह जानकारी दी। हालांकि, दिल्ली में मौसमी धुंध घनी है लेकिन अक्टूबर के मध्य से आठ नवंबर तक पराली जलाने से होने वाले धुएं का औसत दैनिक योगदान पिछले चार वर्षों में सबसे कम रहा है। सीएसई में अनुसंधान की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी ने कहा, ‘‘जाहिर तौर पर मौसम की प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों (ठंडी और शांत हवाओं) के संयुक्त असर, पराली और पटाखे जलाने से मौसम की धुंध छा गई है।’’ सीएसई ने बताया कि पिछले चार वर्षों की धुंध की पहली घटना की तुलना करने पर मौजूदा धुंध 2018 और 2020 की पहली धुंध की अवधि से मिलती है जो छह दिनों तक रही थी। अगर परिस्थितियों में सुधार नहीं होता है तो यह 2019 की धुंध से भी अधिक समय तक रह सकती है जो आठ दिनों तक रही थी। सीएसई ने कहा, ‘‘दिल्ली के औसतन दैनिक पीएम2.5 में अक्टूबर से आठ नवंबर के दौरान धुएं का योगदान पिछले चार वर्षों में सबसे कम रहा है। अभी तक यह प्रतिदिन औसतन 12 प्रतिशत दर्ज किया गया जबकि पिछले साल 17 फीसदी, 2019 में 14 फीसदी और 2018 में 16 प्रतिशत था।’’

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Weather Update: इन राज्यों में अगले 2 दिन भारी बारिश की चेतावनी, दिल्‍ली में छाई धुंध

नई दिल्‍ली. बंगाल की खाड़ी (Bay of Bengal) के ऊपर बना निम्‍न दबाव का असर अब कई राज्‍यों में दिखाई पड़ने लगा है. मौसम विभाग (Meteorological Department) के मुताबिक जिस तरह के हालात दिखाई पड़ रहे हैं उसे देखने के बाद अनुमान लगाया जा रहा है कि निम्‍न दबाव बहुत जल्‍द दबाव वाले क्षेत्र में तब्‍दील हो जाएगा और कई राज्‍यों में भारी बारिश (Rain) होगी. मौसम विभाग के मुताबिक अगले कुछ दिनों में तमिलनाडु (Tamil Nadu) और उसके आसपास के इलाकों में भारी बारिश होने की आशंका है. चेन्‍नई (Chennai) में पिछले कई दिनों से हो रही बारिश में कई क्षेत्रों में कमी देखने को मिली है लेकिन तमिलनाडु के नागापट्टिनम और केंद्र शासित प्रदेश पुडुचेरी के कराईकल जैसे क्षेत्रों में भारी से बहुत भारी बारिश हुई. मौसम विभाग से मिली जानकारी के मुताबिक एक ट्रफ रेखा दक्षिण-पूर्व बंगाल पर बने चक्रवाती हवाओं के क्षेत्र से तमिलनाडु तट से दूर दक्षिण-पश्चिम बंगाल की खाड़ी तक फैली हुई है. इसका असर अब मौसम पर दिखाई दे रहा है. मौसम पूर्वानुमान के मुताबिक केरल और तमिलनाडु के कुछ हिस्सों, तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश और अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप समूह के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में अगले 24 घंटे के अंदर हल्की से मध्यम बारिश हो सकती है. विज्ञापन दिल्ली और राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र में मौसम की पहली घनी धुंध छा गई है और इसके दो और दिनों तक रहने की आशंका है. विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र (सीएसई) ने जानकारी देते हुए बताया कि दिल्ली में मौसमी धुंध घनी है लेकिन अक्टूबर के मध्य से आठ नवंबर तक पराली जलाने से होने वाले धुएं का औसत दैनिक योगदान पिछले चार वर्षों में सबसे कम रहा है. सीएसई में अनुसंधान की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी ने कहा, जाहिर तौर पर मौसम की प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों (ठंडी और शांत हवाओं) के संयुक्त असर, पराली और पटाखे जलाने से मौसम की धुंध छा गई है. चार वर्षों में सबसे लंबे समय तक धुंध बने रहने का अनुमान सीएसई ने बताया कि पिछले चार वर्षों की धुंध की पहली घटना की तुलना करने पर मौजूदा धुंध 2018 और 2020 की पहली धुंध की अवधि से मिलती है जो छह दिनों तक रही थी. अगर परिस्थितियों में सुधार नहीं होता है तो यह 2019 की धुंध से भी अधिक समय तक रह सकती है जो आठ दिनों तक रही थी.

Water Programme

मुना से झाग खत्म करने के लिए पानी का छिड़काव करने के पीछे क्या लॉजिक है?

दिल्ली में यमुना नदी में बन रहे झाग को खत्म करने के लिए पानी का छिड़काव किया जा रहा है. साथ ही झाग को नदी के तटों तक आने से रोकने के लिए बैरिकेड्स लगाए जा रहे हैं. न्यूज एजेंसी ANI ने एक वीडियो ट्वीट किया है. इसमें दिल्ली जल बोर्ड का एक कर्मचारी कहता है, झाग खत्म करने के लिए पानी छिड़काव से क्या होगा? यमुना में झाग बनना प्रदूषित नदी की निशानी है. एक्सपर्ट्स का मानना है कि अब भी शहर के कई हिस्सों का सीवर बिना ट्रीटमेंट के ही यमुना में गिर रहा है, जो झाग बनाता है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) में जल कार्यक्रम की वरिष्ठ प्रबंधक सुष्मिता सेनगुप्ता के मुताबिक, नदी में फॉस्फेट से झाग बनता है. यमुना का जलस्तर इस समय कम है. पानी का प्रवाह कम है. ऐसे में प्रदूषक कण एक परत बना लेते हैं. खास तौर पर यमुना में फास्फेट की मात्रा इस झाग की परत के लिए जिम्मेदार है. उन्होंने दी लल्लनटॉप को फोन पर बताया, दिल्ली में 50 प्रतिशत एरिया सीवर वाला है. 50 प्रतिशत वेस्ट नदी में ऐसे ही डंप हो रहा है. क्योंकि यहां के घर सीवर ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट से कनेक्टेड नहीं हैं. सीवेज के कारण यमुना एकदम से प्रदूषित हो गई है. झाग फास्फेट से बन रहा है. जो हाउसहोल्ड डिटर्जेंट या कम्युनटी लेवल लॉन्ड्री या बॉयलर के पानी से फास्फेट आ रहा है. जो इंडस्ट्री से यमुना में गिरने वाला पानी है उसी से झाग बन रहा है. इस साल की शुरुआत में दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण समिति (DPCC) ने एक रिपोर्ट निकाली थी. इसमें बताया गया है कि कहां-कहां फास्फेट बढ़ रहा है. केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (CPCB) की एक रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि झाग का निर्माण दो जगह पर होता है. आईटीओ के डाउनस्ट्रीम और ओखला बैराज. ओखला बैराज पर ऊंचाई से पानी गिरने से फास्फेट और सरफेक्टेंट पानी में घुलते हैं और झाग बनाते हैं.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Kaithal tops Hry farm fires, state count sees 33% drop

Gurgaon: Kaithal has reported the highest number of farm fires in Haryana this season, at 1,066, followed by Fatehabad (938), Karnal (848), Kurukshetra (518), Ambala (267), Yamunanagar (142) and Sirsa (148), according to data from the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC). Districts with small paddy cultivation areas, such as Palwal (101), Panipat (99) and Sonipat (70), have also witnessed stubble-burning incidents. The data indicates 4,753 cases of stubble fires in the state between September 15 and November 10, which is significantly lower than 7,083 recorded in the same period last year — a drop of nearly 33%. However, this could change, said experts. Since rains lingered well into October this time, farm fires began late and the next couple of weeks could see an increase as farmers clear their fields for the sowing season. In the past 24 hours, about 200 active fire locations (AFLs) have been reported in the state. “The number of farm fires from October 1 to November 6 was less when we look at data from the past four years. But after November 6, the fires have increased. This is happening because of the long monsoon this year. The region might witness a spike in farm fires in the coming two weeks,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment. State agriculture officials, meanwhile, said efforts are being made to provide subsidised machinery to farmers to manage crop waste. An agriculture department official in Kaithal pointed out that the number of active fire locations in the district is down from last year’s 1,418. “Satellite data capturing AFLs is not correct all the time. Also, the fires which have been picked up by satellite are very small that are not spread across 1 acre or 2 acres of land,” said Karam Chand, deputy director, agriculture department, Kaithal. Chand added that a spike in farm fires was unlikely as “all seeds are already sown for the next harvest by now”. Aditya Pratap Dabas, deputy director, agriculture department, Karnal, said officials had been working very closely with farmers for crop residue management. “We have successfully reduced the incidents of farm fires so far despite having 1.7 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation land, the highest in Haryana. Till now, we have imposed a fine of Rs 11 lakh and filed 72 FIRs,” he added. Dabas said the actual number of stubble-burning incidents in Karnal could be less than the 848 reported by HARSAC as “nearly 200 farm locations picked up by satellite were not identified” by their team. He added that he doesn’t expect more farm fires in the coming days because “wheat has already been sown in 50% of the land”. Dr Virender Singh Arya, director, HARSAC, said agencies working on active farm fires incidents this year have a standardised methodology. “All agencies have been directed to monitor farm fires from September 15 to November 30 across the country, which will enable us to get a clear picture. The fires started late this year and we are analysing the data every day,” he added. According to Haryana government data, the total area under paddy in the state was 34 lakh acres last year. This year, the area where cultivation has taken place has been reduced to 30.4 lakh acres. Agriculture officials, therefore, expect that the incidents of stubble burning will remain low this time compared to last year.

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Delhi in grip of season's first smog episode, likely to be longest in 4 yrs: CSE

The first severe smog episode has hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and is expected to last for another two days, green think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Even though the seasonal smog in Delhi is intense, the average daily contribution of smoke from farm fires from the middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in last four years, it said. “Predictably, the season's first episode has been triggered by the combined effect of unfavourable weather conditions (cool and calm winds and inversion), stubble burning and firecrackers,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. While very high concentrations of PM2.5 have hogged attention, the levels of gases – ozone, CO or NO2 -- have remained elevated during this smog episode. Also, the ratio of SO2 to NO2 increased on Diwali night indicating increased pollution load from firecrackers. The PM2.5 concentration on Diwali night (8 pm to 8 am) has been the most intense since 2017," said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi in grip of season's first smog episode, likely to be longest in 4 yrs: CSE

Compared to the first smog episode of previous 4 years, the current smog episode has matched the duration of first smog of 2018 and 2020 season, Centre for Science & Environment said The first severe smog episode has hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and is expected to last for another two days, green think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Even though the seasonal smog in Delhi is intense, the average daily contribution of smoke from farm fires from the middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in last four years, it said. Predictably, the season's first episode has been triggered by the combined effect of unfavourable weather conditions (cool and calm winds and inversion), stubble burning and firecrackers, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Compared to the first smog episode of previous four years, the current smog has matched the duration of the first smog of 2018 and 2020 season -- both lasted six days. If conditions don't improve, it might overtake the 2019 smog that lasted eight days, the CSE said. The average intensity of the smog this year so far is 329 microgram per cubic metre per day, which is lower than that of the 2020 smog (by 7 per cent) and 2019 smog (by 3 per cent). It is more intense than the 2018 smog (about 9 per cent). Lingering on of this year's smog for longer duration despite relatively windier local conditions might be due to the lack of pollution control measures in the city, the green think tank said. While very high concentrations of PM2.5 have hogged attention, the levels of gases ozone, CO or NO2 -- have remained elevated during this smog episode. Also, the ratio of SO2 to NO2 increased on Diwali night indicating increased pollution load from firecrackers. The PM2.5 concentration on Diwali night (8 pm to 8 am) has been the most intense since 2017," said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR and the larger Indo-Gangetic Plain. On an average, contribution of smoke to Delhi's daily PM2.5 during middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in the last four years. So far, it has recorded on an average 12 per cent per day in contrast to 17 per cent per day in 2020, 14 per cent per day in 2019, and 16 per cent per day in 2018 (as reported by SAFAR), the CSE said. If converted to absolute concentrations, the per day contribution of smoke stood at 26 microgram per cubic metre this year so far compared to 35 microgram per cubic metre in 2020, 40 microgram per cubic metre in 2019, and 31 microgram per cubic metre in 2018, it said. However, the peak contribution of smoke to Delhi's PM level was recorded on 7th November when it hit 48 per cent. This the second highest daily contribution percentage recorded since such estimation was started by SAFAR in 2018. The highest single day contribution percentage has been 58 per cent recorded on November 5, 2018. The ongoing smog episode is a public health emergency. This requires urgent emergency action on key combustion sources (vehicles, industry, waste burning) and dust sources (construction and roads) to prevent further trapping of pollution when there is no wind to blow this away. We need pollution-source-wise and hotspot-wise status of action, Roychowdhury said.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

The road to tackling pollution is tough but not inaccessible

Only harmonised year-long, inter-state action plans will help us get some fresh air A comprehensive and harmonised year-long, inter-state action plan that takes into account small and big factors that trigger pollution in the northern plains is needed to help improve air quality in the National Capital Region, experts say. Localised measures will not help if other states do not take proper steps in tandem to address similar problems on their side, the experts explained. Every winter, New Delhi and its neighbouring areas face an air pollution emergency. There are many triggers – firecrackers, stubble burning by farmers, vehicular pollution, the burning of biomass, waste and solid fuel, industrial emissions and dust from construction sites, roads and degraded land. While many of these factors exist even in summer, unfavourable weather conditions in winter make matters worse. Falling temperatures and moisture in the air trap pollutants and slow wind speeds make their dispersal difficult. The result: a toxic haze of ultra-fine and extremely hazardous particulate matter that engulfs the region for two-three months. Every October, the hue and cry starts over pollution – widespread media coverage, a political and inter-state blame game over farm fires, bursting of firecrackers despite a ban, a wave of pollution and, finally, waiting for the weather gods to rescue us. After the farm fires die down by November-end, the issue gets diluted. Around February-March, when the sky gets clearer, everything is often forgotten till the next pollution season. Policies have been announced off and on by the Centre and many steps have been taken by the state governments concerned, including Delhi, which is at the centre of all the action. The 22-year-old Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) was dissolved to form the statutory Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which now oversees and implements decisions related to pollution in the NCR and adjoining areas. A graded response action plan (GRAP) is in place to take emergency measures depending on how the air quality deteriorates. The steps include a ban on diesel generators in the NCR, an alternate-day road rationing policy for cars, a ban on construction, closure of brick kilns, stone crushers and hot-mix plants, and sprinkling of water, depending on the level of air pollution. Still, nothing seems to be effective and we are back to square one every year. Stronger action So, where are we going wrong? Is there a lack of seriousness in enforcing the measures? Is there a need to have a fresh look at the solutions? Is there a way out of the mess? Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, at the Centre for Science and Environment, said there is a long way to go. At present, most of the action takes place during winters, when pollution peaks, and what is needed is deeper action around the year to reduce pollution across sectors. “A cleaner winter and sustained air quality gains require round-the-year multi-sectoral action to fix the gaps in infrastructure and systems. Trapping of pollutants due to adverse atmospheric conditions during winter can be controlled only if the overall pollution level is reduced. Emergency action during winter can only help to shave off the peak pollution by not adding more (to the mess) when the pollutants are already trapped with no wind to blow it away,” she said. According to Roy Chowdhury, it would be unfair to say that nothing is working. She said the Delhi government has taken more steps than other cities in the region to stabilise and bend the pollution curve, but more aggressive action is needed to reduce particulate pollution by about 58 percent in order to meet clean air standards. Among other big steps, Delhi has shifted big polluting industries out of the city, shut down coal-based power plants, banned the use of dirty fuels in all sectors, phased out most old vehicles, moved public transport and local commercial transport to natural gas, and restricted the entry of polluting trucks. “A lot more is needed to scale up an integrated public transport system to restrain the use of personal vehicles, strengthen municipal infrastructure for source segregation and recycling of waste, eliminate dirty fuels from all industrial units and households in the city, and design streets and green-walling to control dust,” she said. Electrification of cabs, delivery fleets and mass public transport such as buses will go a long way in reducing the use of fossil fuels, Chowdhury explained. “It needs to meet its EV target to push the transition to cleaner energy,” she said. Delhi wants 25 percent of total vehicle registrations to be electric vehicles by 2024. States together Experts also lay emphasis on a regional action plan covering Delhi, adjoining NCR cities and the entire northern Indo-Gangetic plain that bear the brunt of pollution and are a source of pollutants as well. Central Pollution Control Board data released this week showed that cities such as Agra and West UP districts such as Baghpat, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut recorded ‘severe’ air quality. Uttar Pradesh also contributes to stubble burning, although Punjab usually tops the chart, followed by Haryana. Stubble burning every winter pushes up the pollution index. Incentives to farmers and the threat of penal action haven’t been able to assuage the situation. Delhi’s pollution cannot be dealt with in isolation as the polluting sources from nearby have to be taken into account and controlled to find an overall effective solution, said Chandra Bhushan, CEO of the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology. “Delhi is a fraction of the larger NCR region. So you cannot have a polluting NCR region and a clean Delhi,” Bhushan said. He stressed the need for larger action on the ground rather than token measures such as sprinkling of water and setting up of smog towers. Lack of coordination between multiple agencies and political differences between state governments have hindered the implementation and enforcement of anti-pollution measures as there was no overarching authority to oversee all the action on the ground. These factors were kept in mind while forming the CAQM with the aim of bringing all monitoring bodies on one platform so that air quality management is done efficiently and in a time-bound manner. The Centre also felt that the EPCA, which did not have penal provisions, had become ineffective. Roy Chowdhury agreed on the need for a unified plan. While Delhi’s own action has to be more stringent across sectors, action will have to be scaled up across the NCR and beyond to minimise regional influences on air quality, she said. “We need to urgently harmonise stringent multi-sector action across the region including rural sources. India will have to adopt a regional framework for air quality management to make different state governments accountable for meeting clean air targets within the airshed,” Roy Chowdhury said. Health hazard This year, an extended rainy season and high winds ensured a clean October in the NCR compared to previous years. A delayed harvest pushed back stubble burning, which delayed the onset of the pollution season. However, the scene changed in November, when farm fires rose. The bursting of firecrackers on Diwali (November 4) did not help and the air quality index (AQI) breached the severe zone in Delhi and adjoining cities. An AQI of 51-100 is considered satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and anything above 401 severe. The ultra-fine inhalable PM 2.5 pollutants in the air are capable of infiltrating the bloodstream through the respiratory system and can cause asthma and other respiratory problems, lung cancer, heart disease and other fatal ailments. A recent survey by LocalCircles, a community social media platform, showed that four in five families in the region have someone facing one or more ailments due to contaminated air. The survey showed that 91 percent of Delhiites believe the authorities were completely or partially ineffective in enforcing the ban on transportation, distribution and sale of crackers this Diwali. The survey received over 34,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. Biomass, solid fuel and dust Bhushan said the diagnosis of the problem itself is not correct. He said there is too much focus on automobiles while the graver problems of biomass and waste burning as well as land degradation get ignored. At a pan-India level, Bhushan explained, at least 85 percent of the air pollution is triggered by the burning of coal, biomass and garbage, and less than 15 percent by petroleum products. In 2019, 1,830 million tonnes of fossil fuels and biomass were burnt across the country to meet energy needs. Plus, 100 million tonnes of farm waste and 15 million tonnes of garbage were burnt, which triggered smoke pollution, he explained. “The use of wood, coal, and biomass to meet our energy needs… needs to be addressed on an urgent basis. Tackling vehicular pollution alone will not help. Addressing all this requires political will and time. There is no shortcut to tackle this burning issue,” he said. He pointed to another pollution generator: dust from open construction sites, roadsides and degraded land and desertification. Roy Chowdhury agreed that the regional view has to take into account all sources of pollution. “We need a clean energy transition in households in NCR and switch to electricity, LPG, etc, in place of firewood stoves,” she said. Controlling dust pollution, Roy Chowdhury agreed, is a challenge. “We need a policy of soil stabilisation, to prevent denudation and to protect the Aravallis, which play a key role in checking the movement of sand and dust from the Thar desert to NCR, Haryana and western UP,” she said.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

City sees lowest temp of season; air quality 'very poor', likely to worsen in next 2 days

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 13.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest this season so far, on Wednesday and it is likely to dip to 11 degrees Celsius in a week, according to the India Meteorological Department. The maximum temperature settled at 29.6 degrees Celsius. Strong winds lowered pollution levels marginally and the 24-hourly average air quality index stood at 372 at 4 pm. Stubble burning accounted for 27 per cent of the air pollution in the Capital. The Ministry of Earth Sciences' forecast agency SAFAR forecast that the air quality will deteriorate over the next two days and improve on November 13. Calm local surface winds may lead to stagnant conditions that weakens dispersion of pollutants, it said. Also Read - Devotees throng Yamuna defying DDMA ban, BJP MPs egg them on The air quality had slipped into the severe category on Tuesday and the 24-hourly average AQI stood at 404 at 4 pm. The share of farm fires in Delhi's pollution rose to a three-year high of 48 per cent on Sunday. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change), Skymet Weather said the share of stubble burning in Delhi-NCR's air pollution is expected to remain high for another week. "No major improvement in air quality is likely in the next four to five days," he said. The first severe smog episode has hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and is expected to last for another two days, green think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Even though the seasonal smog in Delhi is intense, the average daily contribution of smoke from farm fires from the middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in last four years, it said.

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Delhi in grip of season's first smog episode, likely to be longest in 4 yrs: CSE ...... Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/delhi-in-grip-of-season-s-first-smog-episode-likely-to-be-longest-in-4-yrs-cse-india-1.6165841

The first severe smog episode has hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and is expected to last for another two days, green think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday....... Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/delhi-in-grip-of-season-s-first-smog-episode-likely-to-be-longest-in-4-yrs-cse-india-1.6165841

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First Severe Smog Episode Hits Delhi, Could Be Longest In 4 Years: Report

The average intensity of the smog in Delhi so far is 329 microgram per cubic metre per day. New Delhi: The first severe smog episode has hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and is expected to last for another two days, green think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said today. Even though the seasonal smog in Delhi is intense, the average daily contribution of smoke from farm fires from the middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in last four years, it said. “Predictably, the season’s first episode has been triggered by the combined effect of unfavourable weather conditions (cool and calm winds and inversion), stubble burning and firecrackers,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Compared to the first smog episode of previous four years, the current smog has matched the duration of the first smog of 2018 and 2020 season — both lasted six days. If conditions don’t improve, it might overtake the 2019 smog that lasted eight days, the CSE said. The average intensity of the smog this year so far is 329 microgram per cubic metre per day, which is lower than that of the 2020 smog (by 7 per cent) and 2019 smog (by 3 per cent). It is more intense than the 2018 smog (about 9 per cent). Lingering on of this year’s smog for longer duration despite relatively windier local conditions might be due to the lack of pollution control measures in the city, the green think tank said. “While very high concentrations of PM2.5 have hogged attention, the levels of gases – ozone, CO or NO2 — have remained elevated during this smog episode. Also, the ratio of SO2 to NO2 increased on Diwali night indicating increased pollution load from firecrackers. The PM2.5 concentration on Diwali night (8 pm to 8 am) has been the most intense since 2017,” said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR and the larger Indo-Gangetic Plain. “On an average, contribution of smoke to Delhi’s daily PM2.5 during middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in the last four years. So far, it has recorded on an average 12 per cent per day in contrast to 17 per cent per day in 2020, 14 per cent per day in 2019, and 16 per cent per day in 2018 (as reported by SAFAR),” the CSE said. “If converted to absolute concentrations, the per day contribution of smoke stood at 26 microgram per cubic metre this year so far compared to 35 microgram per cubic metre in 2020, 40 microgram per cubic metre in 2019, and 31 microgram per cubic metre in 2018,” it said. However, the peak contribution of smoke to Delhi’s PM level was recorded on 7th November when it hit 48 per cent. This the second highest daily contribution percentage recorded since such estimation was started by SAFAR in 2018. The highest single day contribution percentage has been 58 per cent recorded on November 5, 2018.

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Delhi in grip of season's first severe smog episode, likely to be longest in 4 years: CSE

New Delhi: The first severe smog episode has hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and is expected to last for another two days, green think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Even though the seasonal smog in Delhi is intense, the average daily contribution of smoke from farm fires from the middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in last four years, it said. "Predictably, the season's first episode has been triggered by the combined effect of unfavourable weather conditions (cool and calm winds and inversion), stubble burning and firecrackers," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Compared to the first smog episode of previous four years, the current smog has matched the duration of the first smog of 2018 and 2020 season -- both lasted six days. If conditions don't improve, it might overtake the 2019 smog that lasted eight days, the CSE said. The average intensity of the smog this year so far is 329 microgram per cubic metre per day, which is lower than that of the 2020 smog (by 7 per cent) and 2019 smog (by 3 per cent). It is more intense than the 2018 smog (about 9 per cent). Lingering on of this year's smog for longer duration despite relatively windier local conditions might be due to the lack of pollution control measures in the city, the green think tank said. "While very high concentrations of PM2.5 have hogged attention, the levels of gases - ozone, CO or NO2 -- have remained elevated during this smog episode. Also, the ratio of SO2 to NO2 increased on Diwali night indicating increased pollution load from firecrackers. The PM2.5 concentration on Diwali night (8 pm to 8 am) has been the most intense since 2017," said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR and the larger Indo-Gangetic Plain. "On an average, contribution of smoke to Delhi's daily PM2.5 during middle of October to November 8 has been the lowest in the last four years. So far, it has recorded on an average 12 per cent per day in contrast to 17 per cent per day in 2020, 14 per cent per day in 2019, and 16 per cent per day in 2018 (as reported by SAFAR)," the CSE said. "If converted to absolute concentrations, the per day contribution of smoke stood at 26 microgram per cubic metre this year so far compared to 35 microgram per cubic metre in 2020, 40 microgram per cubic metre in 2019, and 31 microgram per cubic metre in 2018," it said. However, the peak contribution of smoke to Delhi's PM level was recorded on 7th November when it hit 48 per cent. This the second highest daily contribution percentage recorded since such estimation was started by SAFAR in 2018. The highest single day contribution percentage has been 58 per cent recorded on November 5, 2018. "The ongoing smog episode is a public health emergency. This requires urgent emergency action on key combustion sources (vehicles, industry, waste burning) and dust sources (construction and roads) to prevent further trapping of pollution when there is no wind to blow this away. We need pollution-source-wise and hotspot-wise status of action," Roychowdhury

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

First Severe Smog Episode Hits Delhi, Could Be Longest In 4 Years: Report

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility