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Delhi News Live: Capital records 37 new Covid-19 cases; water supply in Gurugram to be affected on October 27 and 28

Delhi Latest Updates, Delhi Covid-19 Cases Live: With paddy stubble burning expected to rise in the next few days, pollution in Delhi too is expected to go up. Delhi Live News: Delhi on Sunday recorded zero Covid-19 fatalities and 37 fresh cases with a positivity rate of 0.06 per cent. As per official data, only four deaths have been recorded so far this month — once each on October 2, October 10, October 19 and October 22. Water supply will be affected in parts of Gurugram from October 27 to October 28, as the master water supply from Water Treatment Plant, Chandu Budhera, towards Boosting Station Sector 51 will be shut, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) said in a public notice. As such, residents were advised to use water judiciously on October 26, 27 and 28. In other news, while Delhi has enjoyed a relatively cleaner pre-winter period (September 1-October 15) this year compared to previous years, as per an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, experts attributed this to the extended rainfall as well a delayed paddy harvest in Punjab and Haryana. With paddy stubble burning expected to rise in the next few days, pollution too is expected to go up. HC fixes for final hearing pleas to recognise same-sex marriages under law The Delhi High Court Monday listed for final hearing separate pleas, including by two same sex couples, seeking a declaration recognising same sex marriages under the special, Hindu and foreign marriage laws. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh granted time to the parties for filing replies and rejoinders in the matter and listed it for final hearing on November 30. In the first petition, Abhijit Iyer Mitra and three others have contended that same-sex marriages are not possible despite the Supreme Court's decriminalising consensual homosexual acts and sought a declaration to recognise them under the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) and Special Marriage Act (SMA). The two other pleas are -- one filed by two women seeking to get married under the SMA and challenging provisions of the statute to the extent that it does not provide for same-sex marriages, and the other filed by two men who got married in the US but were denied registration of their marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act (FMA).

UN climate conference: Reducing greenhouse gases India’s top priority

India has said it would install 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and has internally announced that 30% of all private vehicles will run on electricity by that year India is likely to reiterate its commitment of rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the United Nations climate conference to be held in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12, but may also insist that wealthy nations take stronger action to curtail emissions so that developing countries like India have room to grow. India has said it would install 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and has internally announced that 30% of all private vehicles will run on electricity by that year. These could be reflected, among other measures, in an updated nationally determined contribution, environment ministry officials said at a select media briefing on Friday. Expectations of concrete action are high in the run up to this year’s climate summit as it could be the last change for the world to keep global warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial times, as was agreed upon in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, without compromising on growth in developing economies. India might even agree to net-zero emissions sometime after 2050. Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. It entails reductions in the use of coal, oil and gas, and corresponding increase in carbon sequestration efforts like planting trees. “Net zero for a later date is on the platter as an option,” an environment ministry official said. However, the developed world should transition to net zero far earlier, say by 2030, leaving some carbon space for emerging economies like India, he said. “The decision will be taken at the highest level of the government, as it involves India’s growth trajectory,” the official said, requesting anonymity. India may decide on its final negotiation strategy on Wednesday during a meeting of the Union cabinet. As many as 130 countries have set or are considering a net-zero emissions target by mid-century, according to the United Nations. A net zero commitment by 2060 is under discussion in India, said the London-based Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a non-profit. Many western nations such as France, the UK and Denmark, among others, will have net-zero emissions by 2050. Russia and China have also announced plans to be carbon neutral by 2060. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, will reach zero-net emissions by 2060, it said on Saturday. India’s climate negotiators have held meetings with relevant ministries and on October 6 held consultations with non-government organisation working in the area of climate change. Many of these institutions have asked environment minister Bhupender Yadav that India should negotiate on the use of remaining carbon budget. Carbon space and its budgeting will be of highest importance for India, they said in their submissions reviewed by HT. Big emitters pledging net-zero emissions by 2050 or 2060 have no meaning unless the trajectory to get there is clear, according to economist Nitin Desai, chairman of the governing council at The Energy and Resources Institute, a New Delhi-based think tank. India should call on the developed world to become carbon negative or at least carbon neutral by 2030, Desai said. There is a need to highlight the carbon budget that is available to the world to meet the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, he said . India may consider coining the concept of carbon tax on historical emissions by developed countries, according to Kirit Parikh, chairman of Integrated Research and Action for Development, a research foundation. He is of the view that India should call upon developed countries to adopt shorter timelines to become carbon neutral and highlight the importance of carbon space that remains available to the global community. By 2030, the US would have appropriated around 17.7% of the world’s total carbon budget, according to an analysis in Climate Change: Science and Politics, a book released by the Centre for Science and Environment, an advocacy organisation. China’s emissions will be between 29.5% of global emissions between 2012 and 2030, compared to 6.5% for India, the analysis revealed. “In this way, by 2030, over 80% to 100% of the available carbon budget will be occupied with hardly any room for India and African countries… Therefore, India and other developing countries must stake claim to the remaining carbon space,” the analysis showed. The remaining carbon space is of utmost importance and should be highlighted by India at the climate summit, said climate scientist T Jayaraman, senior fellow at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, who was also part of the consultations. “India could consider supporting a global net zero by 2050, which is achieved in consonance with the principles of UNFCCC, particularly common but differentiated responsibilities and equity,” said Manjeev Singh Puri, former ambassador and lead climate change negotiator for India. “A timeline for peaking and then emissions reduction trajectory is a longer term issue for India, given its development imperatives.”

Severe peak in winter smog expected in Delhi, quick action required to counter this: CSE Report

CSE’s latest analysis of the air quality trends warned that Delhi and NCR will witness severe peak smog as stubble burning will be concentrated due to delayed rains. More details here. 2021 is starting in Delhi with cleaner air as compared to the previous year as per an analysis released by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). However, the report titled, Winter is coming: Understanding pre-winter air pollution baseline in Delhi-NCR, warned that this winter may experience a severe peak in smog, as farm stubble fire counts may get concentrated due to the delayed effect of the rains. Usually, the smog that occurs in the end October and the beginning of November is driven by stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, Avikal Somanshi, the programme manager at the Urban Data Analytic Lab at CSE told Gaon Connection. However, the delayed monsoons this year stalled the stubble burning, he pointed out. “This implies that the stubble will be burnt in a concentrated manner, at the end of the month. The quantum of smoke coming to Delhi would be in higher concentration which will lead to a peak in smog. Immediate action needs to be taken to counter it,” Somanshi said. The report, released on October 22, highlighted that Delhi witnessed its cleanest monsoon season in the last four years (July 1 to October 15). The city-wide average for the monsoon stood at 41 microgram per cubic metre (ug/m3), with 96 days meeting the 24-hour standard for PM2.5 (particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or smaller in size). The advantage of improved air quality during the summer of 2020 due to the lockdown was however lost in the summer of 2021, and PM2.5 levels in 2021 seemed to have almost returned to the 2019 levels despite the partial lockdowns, the CSE report noted. It assessed the annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2018 to October 15, 2021. The analysis was based on real-time data available from the currently operational air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR and the larger Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The report investigated the air quality trends in the national capital territory of Delhi, the National Capital Region (NCR), and the larger Indo-Gangetic Plains. It covered 156 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 67 cities in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Sharing the preventive measures that need to be taken to check air quality in the region, Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director (research and advocacy) at CSE said, “Delhi and the larger region will require urgent action to prevent severe smog episodes as well as speed up deeper reforms to sustain the gains. Reduce traffic volume, eliminate waste burning, eliminate dirty industrial fuels, and implement stringent dust control measures — especially in the construction sector.” Improvement in Cleaner days since 2018 The report highlighted that there was an average six per cent annual improvement, since 2018, in the number of cleaner days. Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi recorded the lowest seasonal average of 33 ug/m3 whereas Anand Vihar, with a season average of 61 ug/m3, had only 54 cleaner days which made it the worst hotspot in the city. The advent of the monsoon’s retreat date almost perfectly coincided with the start of bad air days in Delhi. Bad air days means the PM2.5 average breaches the standard and remains above that for the rest of the season. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality standard (AQI) is categorised into six parts. AQI between 0-50 is considered ‘good’, ‘51-100’ is satisfactory, 101-200 is ‘moderate’, 201-300 is ‘poor’, 301-400 is ‘very poor’, and between 401-500 is ‘severe.’ Talking about the volatile trends observed in pollution hotspots, Somanshi said, “Distinct trends are emerging over the years. The number of days with a severe concentration of PM2.5 has declined and, duration of smog episodes are shorter, as is evident during the 2020-21 winter. Some pollution hotspots are recording higher PM2.5 levels compared to the city as a whole and the regional averages even during monsoons.” Smog episodes during the 2020-21 winter witnessed a decline During the winter of 2020-21, the number of days with a city-wide average of PM2.5 concentration in ‘severe’ or ‘worse’ AQI sub-categories was down to 23 from 25 such days in 2019-20 winter, and 34 such days in 2018-19 winter. According to the CSE report, a smog episode takes place when the levels of PM2.5 remain in the ‘severe’ category for three consecutive days. From this perspective, there were two continuous smog episodes in this period. The first one lasted for seven days from November 3, 2020 to November 10, 2020, and the second one was on December 22, 2020 that lasted for just three days. Thus, the report concluded that continuous smog episodes were fewer and shorter as compared to the previous winters. While the winter season of 2020-21 was 5 per cent worse among the major NCR cities and Delhi, as compared to the 2019-20 season, the peak pollution was 13 per cent lower. From the 2019-20 trend, it can be expected that smog episodes in 2021-22 might have a higher peak pollution if prevention measures are not taken to reduce pollution, the report noted. For 2019-20, this can be attributed to the September-October rains that pushed and concentrated the farm stubble burning towards the end of October, and beginning of November when winter conditions were turning more adverse. PM2.5 hotspots Eleven of 18 recognised hotspots registered higher seasonal averages than the city and the region, but only Anand Vihar and Punjabi Bagh showed worsening air quality during the 2021 monsoon as compared to 2020 monsoon, the report noted. Fifty per cent of the 14 new locations in NCR, which were identified as emerging hotspots by CSE, registered lower levels of air pollution this monsoon as compared to city and regional averages. Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, Manesar in Haryana, and Sector-11 in Faridabad have also emerged as potential hotspots, wherein Sector 11 had the worst air (64 ug/m3) during this monsoon in NCR. From the list of 35 recognised and emerging hotspots, only three locations – Mayapuri, Okhla Phase 2, and Sanjay Nagar – had their summer averages below the regional average of 75 ug/m3. Two hotspots that showed improvement were Wazirpur and Sahibabad. Air pollution in Delhi in 2019. Photo : Wiki Coomon Changing pattern of lead pollutants and AQI during pre-winter months While particulate pollution dominates the daily pollution in Delhi, other gaseous pollutants like ozone and carbon monoxide have become the lead pollutants along with particulate pollution of the day due to wash-out effects of rains. The months of September and October show that the number of days in the ‘satisfactory category’ increased from 43 per cent in 2019 to 90 per cent in 2021. This had come down to 27 per cent in 2020. A similar pattern was observed in the ‘moderately polluted’ category. Fortunately, October, 2021 did not witness any day in the ‘poor category.’

Bajaj Auto's Rakesh Sharma: ‘The two-wheeler industry is currently at an inflection point.’

he move toward electrification is going to re-energise the industry according to Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director, Bajaj Auto. He was speaking at day one of Autocar Professional’s mega week-long two-wheeler conclave. He kicked off the event with his thoughts in sync with the day’s theme focussing on 'Industry Regains Momentum'. “The two-wheeler industry is currently at an inflection point. It is a great time for people who are ready to embrace change. Sometimes, we need discontinuation to reinvent the industry. The move to electrification is a good way to reinvent the wheel. It will help reconnect with the customer even more powerfully. Also, this is a global opportunity for India,” the executive director added. He mentioned that like Bajaj Auto, everyone is prepared for the EV storm and are preparing for the 'landfall'. The company will also be setting up a 100 percent subsidiary for driving the electric business. “It is like a new business. And, we are not paranoid about the volume. We have plans to enter more cities,” Sharma said. Regaining momentum “The two-wheeler industry is one of the best industries to be in,” he stated. Be it the dealers, spare parts maker or consumers, it is a good place to be in. But, since FY2019 the industry for one reason or other has been in decline. “The two-wheeler industry is a good indicator of the demand at the bottom of the pyramid. These are essential products and its growth has a multiplier effect on people and the economy. Right now, the demand is in the negative and Covid-19 has surely impacted. The festive season has shown some positive signs but not fully and we expect demand to pick up in the second half of the season,” he pointed out. Rakesh Sharma also stated that the GST recognising two-wheelers and four-wheelers as different product categories, will help revive demand. “The four-wheeler demand has behaved differently. The fundamental demand price elasticity are different from a two-wheeler,” According to him, if there is a move to offer relief on the purchase side and income taxes and if there could be steps to put more money in the pockets of middle-class consumers, it could help drive the demand in India. “Demand is strongest in the mid-level motorcycles," the ED explained. He hgighlighted the “need to be prepared for the long haul,” despite the short-term challenges and pointed out that customer service, R&D and manufacturing are the key focus areas for the longer term. Tackling challenges During the interaction he also said that new measures from China may choke the circulation of containers. “I am bracing myself up for it,” he expressed. It should take almost up to a year to get things back to normal. “The whole horizon of managing is now reduced to a quarter and a month even for top management. We need to be agile about considering short-term uncertainties and put counter measures into place,” he added. Register now for the two-wheeler conclave This is a must-attend event for all stakeholders of the industry and in case you haven’t already, Register now to ensure your participation everyday of this power-packed last week of October. Participants can hear and share their views and also pose questions. At Autocar Professional we try to take up all our viewer questions and maximise the value of every minute that all of you share with us. Remember to join us at 10 am every morning between October 25-29, 2021. Here is a day-wise split of the topics for the remaining days of the Two-Wheeler Week. October 26 – The Race To Go Electric 10-10:30 am- Sudarshan Venu, Joint MD, TVS Motor Company 10:35- 11:35 am -Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy -Kabir Bhandari, Padmini VNA Mechatronics -Shivalik Prasad, VP (Sales & Alliances), Sibros -Arjun Jain, Business Head - Electrical/Electronics at Varroc Group October 27 – Road to Greener Mobility 10- 10:30 am - Diego Graffi, CEO & MD, Piaggio Vehicles 10:35- 11:35 am -Mahua Acharya, MD & CEO, Convergence Energy Services (CESL) -Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Research & Advocacy, Centre for Science and Enviornment (CSE) -Sanjeev Saxena, President, Automotive Technologies, Schaeffler India -Pankaj Dubey, Co-founder & CEO, Power Global India October 28 – Emerging Safety Trends and Challenges 10- 10:30 am -Krishan Kohli, Head India Market — BU HBS & VED and MD, Continental Automotive Brake Systems India 10:35- 11:35 am Piyush Tewari, Founder & CEO, SaveLife Foundation Uri Lavi, CEO & Co-founder, Ride Vision Renuka Srinivasan, Sales Director, Dassault Systemes October 29 – Premium Biking and the Way Forward 10- 10:30 am - Exclusive conversation with top premium biking manufacturers across India 10:35- 11:35 am Bipul Chandra, MD, Ducati India Shoeb Farooq, Business head- Triumph Motorcycles Ravi Avalur, Head - New Business Unit, Harley-Davidson India

City Buzz: CBSE Term I exam announcement | Post-festival COVID upsurge…and more

Hope rises in Delhi as winter 2021 begins on cleaner note On October 22nd, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the Delhi-based non profit research and advocacy organisation, released its latest analysis of air quality data for the National Capital Region. The 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. The analysis indicated that 2021 winter was starting with a cleaner threshold compared to the previous years, largely due to the intense and prolonged effect of the monsoons. However, as Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at CSE has pointed out, this cannot be used to predict with certainty how pollution is going to bounce back in the winter. A cleaner pre-winter period does not necessarily assure a cleaner winter. The period from October 15 to February 15 is considered as the winter season, based on dates referred in Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan, and the analysis captures three successive winter seasons, pre-winter trends and pre and pandemic era including stages of lockdown in Delhi and NCR. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur for a source apportionment and forecasting study on air pollutants, which is expected to help identify sources of pollution in the capital and also help assess the impact of different sources like vehicular emissions, industries, dust, and biomass burning. The government has also directed the SDMs (sub-divisional magistrates) of 33 zones to hold meetings on air pollution with RWAs, market associations and NGOs and hold anti-firecracker campaigns. They have also been empowered to crack down on illegal sale of firecrackers. Source: Down to Earth | The Indian Express

Delhi braces for yet another air pollution-riddled winter

Fire crackers and stubble burning in the neighbourhood may worsen air pollution With air pollution likely to touch dangerous levels, Delhiites may have to face another year of pollution. Delhi’s air quality remained in the moderate category on Friday. But according to the forecast by World Air Quality Index project, a non-profit project started in 2007, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital will worsen in the coming week, from a range of 69-138 on Friday to 159-186 by Monday. Unhealthy category This projection is based on data from the air quality around the US Embassy in New Delhi, one of the cleaner parts, with an AQI of 104 on Friday morning. Air quality varies throughout the day and across the city. At Anand Vihar, a busier area that houses a prominent inter-State bus terminal, the AQI on Friday noon was 135, which is in the unhealthy category. This is despite the Delhi government’s various steps aimed at curbing air pollution in the State. These include measures such as stopping thermal power plants and pushing industries to switch to gas-based fuel. According to statements from the government, some of these measures may also have yielded positive results. Another step they highlight is the supply of round-the-clock power to the national capital that eliminates the use of diesel gensets. “The 2021 winter is starting with a cleaner threshold, compared to the previous years, largely due to the intense and prolonged effect of the monsoons. While winter pollution cannot be predicted at this moment, the evidence of rising summer pollution in 2021 despite the lockdown and the evidence of a synchronised effect of winter pollution across the Indo-Gangetic Plain add to our concern,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). How soon the winter pollution will hit will depend on the scale and speed of action across the region and leveraging it for more sustained air quality gains, she added. Stubble burning It is feared that fire crackers during Diwali in early November and stubble burning in Delhi’s neighbourhood will worsen the air pollution situation. Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that stubble burning in neighbouring States has been on an upswing, which will adversely impact the air quality of Delhi. Anticipating the same, the State government reiterated a ban on fire crackers on Friday. Acting on reports of illegal storage and sales of firecrackers being reported, the government has instructed all Sub Divisional Magistrates to organise anti-cracker campaigns throughout Delhi. They have also been empowered to take action against illegal sales. The Delhi government, for now, seems to be banking on some of their ongoing efforts to tackle pollution. According to the State government, a smog tower in Central Delhi, which was set up in August, has also shown good results. “These will be studied more and maybe replicated in other parts of the city, as part of the plan; pollution hotspots have been identified, which will be monitored from the Green War Room,” said an earlier statement from the government. On Friday, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee signed an agreement with IIT-Kanpur for a project aimed at identifying sources and forecasting air pollution in real time. This is expected to help identify the factors responsible for the spike in air pollution at any spot in Delhi. It will also help understand the real-time impact of various pollution sources like vehicles, dust, biomass burning, stubble burning, and emissions from industries. While announcing the agreement, Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, said that the State government will be able to take the necessary actions to curb the sources of pollution based on the results obtained from this project. Delhi also started an Anti-Dust Campaign for October, aimed at curbing pollution from construction sites. There have also been efforts to issue more challans the polluting vehicles.

इस साल दिल्ली-एनसीआर की हवा हो सकती है सबसे दमघोंटू, जानिए वजह

नई दिल्ली: आमतौर पर मानसून के बाद और सर्दियों की आहट के महीने अक्टूबर में दिल्ली वालों को जानलेवा हवा (Air Pollution) का सामना करना पड़ता है. हालांकि इस बार हालात पिछले सालों जितने बुरे नहीं हैं. हवा खराब लेकिन पहले से बेहतर अक्टूबर के महीने में हवा की क्वालिटी (Air Pollution) खराब तो हुई है. फिर भी यह मॉडरेट और खराब यानी Poor के बीच की क्वालिटी बनी हुई है. जबकि पिछले सालों में इस महीने एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स पर दिल्ली की हवा बेहद खराब यानी Very Poor स्तर में रही है. दिल्ली में इस साल पिछले 4 सालों का सबसे साफ मानसून सीजन भी दर्ज हुआ है. इस वर्ष अभी तक 96 दिन दिल्ली की हवा सांस लेने लायक रही है. जबकि पीएम PM 2.5 का स्तर 41 के औसत पर रहा है. वर्ष 2018 के मुकाबले हर वर्ष 6 फीसदी की दर से साफ दिनों में बढ़ोतरी हुई है. दिल्ली में कर्णी सिंह शूटिंग रेंज और नेशनल स्टेडियम में सबसे अच्छी हवा दर्ज की गई. कर्णी सिंह रेंज में पीएम 2.5 का स्तर 33 के औसत पर रहा. इसी तरह नेशनल स्टेडियम में 100 दिनों तक हवा का स्तर बेहतर बना रहा है. इस मौसम में भी दिल्ली में आनंद विहार का हाल सबसे खराब रहा. वहां केवल 54 दिनों तक ही साफ हवा रह पाई. जबकि मॉनसून के पूरे सीजन का औसत दिल्ली में 66 दिन था. पंजाब बाग बना प्रदूषण का हॉट स्पॉट आनंद विहार के अलावा पंजाबी बाग को भी दिल्ली में प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) का हॉट स्पॉट माना गया है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट के आंकलन के मुताबिक इस बार अच्छी बारिश की वजह से अभी हवा का स्तर ठीक बना हुआ है. हालांकि सीएसई की एक्सपर्ट अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी का मानना है कि इससे ये अंदाजा नहीं लगाया जा सकता कि सर्दियों में दिल्ली एनसीआर की हवा कैसी रहेगी. हालांकि दिल्ली की गर्मियां इस साल पिछले साल के मुकाबले थोड़ी खराब रही हैं. पिछले साल संपूर्ण लॉकडाउन की वजह से दिल्ली में हवा (Air Pollution) गर्मियों में भी अच्छी थी लेकिन इस साल लॉकडाउन के फायदे से लोग महरुम रह गए और वो असर खत्म हो गया. 2020 में गर्मियों में पीएम 2.5 का औसत 79 था जो 90 दिनों तक बना रहा. इस वर्ष केवल 51 दिन ऐसे थे जब ये औसत बरकरार रह पाया. दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में पराली का योगदान हर साल 10 अक्टूबर के आसपास खेतों में पराली जलने का असर दिल्ली में दिखने लगता है. इस वर्ष भी ऐसा ही हुआ. अभी तक 16 अक्टूबर के दिन पराली का असर सबसे ज्यादा देखा गया है. सरकारी एप सफर के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक 16 अक्टूबर को दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में पराली का योगदान 14 प्रतिशत था. अक्टूबर खत्म होने और नवंबर की शुरुआत में ये योगदान हर साल 40 प्रतिशत तक का हो जाता है, जो दिल्ली के हालात सबसे खराब कर देता है. ये वही दिन होते हैं, जब लोगों के लिए दिल्ली एनसीआर में बंद घरों में भी सांस लेना दूभर हो जाता है. एक्सपर्ट्स का मानना है कि वो बुरे दिन आने वाले हैं. दिल्ली एनसीआर में पीएम 2.5 के अलावा कार्बन मोनोक्सॉइड और ओजोन गैस भी काफी प्रदूषण करती हैं. लोगों का दम घोंट देता है पराली का धुआं 2020 में 1 अक्टूबर से 29 नवंबर के बीच दिल्ली में मौजूद हवा के प्रदूषण वाले PM 2.5 के कणों में रोज़ाना 12 प्रतिशत योगदान पराली के धुएं का रहा. जबकि 2019 में इसी दौरान ये आंकड़ा 8.9 प्रतिशत था. 2018 में 10.9 प्रतिशत प्रतिदिन पराली के धुएं ने दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में अपना योगदान दिया. गौर करने वाली बात ये है कि दिल्ली की हवा (Air Pollution) खराब करने में पराली का योगदान हर साल कई गुना बढ़ा है. अगर औसत देखें तो 2018 में औसतन दिल्ली का प्रदूषण पराली का धुआं रोज 12 प्रतिशत की दर से बढ़ा रहा था जबकि2020 में ये बढ़कर 36 प्रतिशत हो गया. यानी पिछले साल सर्दियों के मौसम में पराली की वजह से दिल्ली में 36 प्रतिशत प्रदूषण बढ़ गया. कैसी थी पिछले साल की सर्दियां? पिछले साल प्रदूषण बाकी वर्षों से कम रहा है. 2020–21 की सर्दियों में 23 दिन दिल्ली एनसीआर की हवा 23 दिन Severe या बेहद गंभीर कैटेगरी में रही. 2019-20 में 25 दिन और 2018-19 में 34 दिन ऐसा रहा. ये वो दिन होते हैं जब दिल्ली में GRAP यानी Graded Response Action Plan लागू रहता है. by Taboola Sponsored Links You May Like 1 करोड़ का टर्म जीवन बीमा मात्र ₹490/माह*. टालो नहीं, ले डालोटर्म जीवन बीमा योजना Exclusively for Ages 4-14PlanetSpark इस बार दिल्ली में 14 लोकेशन को प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) का हॉट स्पॉट माना गया है. इनमें से 50 प्रतिशत जगहों में पिछले साल के मुकाबले हवा बेहतर रही है. लेकिन 3 नई जगहें जुड़ी हैं. राजस्थान का भिवाड़ी, हरियाणा का मानेसर और फरीदाबाद का सेक्टर 11 हवा के लिहाज़ से नए प्रदूषित हॉट स्पॉट बन गए हैं. वज़ीरपुर और साहिबाबाद में हालात बेहतर हुए हैं. ये भी पढ़ें- जज ही निकला रेपिस्ट, कोर्ट ने बलात्कार और धोखाधड़ी का ठहराया दोषी सर्दी में फैल सकता है तेज कोहरा सीएसई (CSE Latest Report) ने ये आंकलन 1 जनवरी 2018 से 15 अक्टूबर 2021 के PM 2.5 के स्तर के आधार पर किया है. इसके लिए देश के 67 शहरों में लगे 156 ambient air quality monitoring stations का डाटा देखा गया. हालांकि रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक बारिश का असर देर से आया है, इसलिए इस बार स्मॉग यानी दमघोंटू प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) का असर पहले सालों के मुकाबले और खराब हो सकता है. इस बार बारिश का असर देर तक रहा है. इसलिए कोहरे के हालात नहीं बने. लेकिन इस बार तेज़ सर्दी आते आते बारिश का असर खत्म हो चुका होगा. ऐसे में तेज़ सर्दी में गहरा कोहरा मिलकर खतरनाक स्मॉग बना सकते हैं. इससे सावधान रहने और अभी एक्शन लेने की ज़रुरत है.

Brace for severe smog in coming days, consider counter measures like reducing traffic on road, says CSE – ET Auto

It correlates well with the lower pollution level in Delhi-NCR. First the good news. Stubble burning in the farms in neighboring states, which is a major contributor to Delhi‘s winter air pollution, has been less than half in the run up to the cold this year so far as compared to last year. This alongwith an extraordinarily wet monsoon which also withdrew later than usual meant Delhi got its cleanest air during the monsoons and early autumn in the last four years. Now the bad part. The delayed withdrawal may have impacted stubble burning in the northern states but is likely to pick up in the next few weeks. Concentrated over a shorter span, it would be more intense which may mean more severe peak in pollution for the capital city. Brace yourself, says Delhi based NGO Centre for Science and Environment, which put out a study analysing air pollution trends in Delhi and the broader Indo-Gangetic belt over the last few years. Delhi and the larger region will require urgent action to prevent severe smog episodes. Reduce traffic volume, eliminate waste burning, eliminate dirty industrial fuels, and implement stringent dust control measures especially in the construction sector Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research & Advocacy, CSE The 2021 winter is starting with a cleaner threshold compared to the previous years, largely due to the intense and prolonged effect of the monsoons. While winter pollution cannot be predicted at this moment, the evidence of rising summer pollution in 2021 despite the lockdown and the evidence of a synchronised effect of winter pollution across the Indo-Gangetic Plain add to our concern,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. “Delhi and the larger region will require urgent action to prevent severe smog episodes. Reduce traffic volume, eliminate waste burning, eliminate dirty industrial fuels, and implement stringent dust control measures — especially in the construction sector.”The extraordinarily wet monsoon this year has translated into the cleanest season for Delhi in the last four years. The city-wide average for the monsoon this year stood at 41 microgramme per cubic metre (ug/m3), with 96 days meeting the 24-hour standard for PM2.5. There was a progressive increase in the number of cleaner days with an average 6 per cent annual improvement since 2018. In Delhi, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range recorded the lowest seasonal average of 33 ug/m3, while the National Stadium had 100 days that met the daily standard. Anand Vihar, with a seasonal average of 61 ug/m3 had lesser number of days – 54 — meeting the standard and was the worst hotspot in the city. So far in the post monsoon autumnal period, things are looking good. The farm fire count during the pre-winter season of 2021 has been less than half of the number recorded last year. The lower count, as reported by satellite imagery, can also be due to increased cloud cover which hinders spotting of fires by satellites. It correlates well with the lower pollution level in Delhi-NCR. Distinct trends are emerging over the years. The number of days with severe concentration of PM2.5 has declined and duration of smog episodes are shorter, as is evident during the 2020-21 winter. Moreover, pollution hotspots are showing more volatile trends with some recording higher PM2.5 levels compared to the city as a whole and the regional averages even during monsoons,” says Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager at the Urban Data Analytic Lab at CSE. “This winter we may get a much severe peak in smog, as farm stubble fire counts may get more concentrated due to the delayed effect of the rains – to counter this, action must be scaled up right away.” Distinct trends are emerging over the years. The number of days with severe concentration of PM2.5 has declined and duration of smog episodes are shorter, as is evident during the 2020-21 winter.. Avikal Somvanshi, Programme Manager, Urban Data Analytic Lab, CSE In 2020, during the stubble burning season October 1-November 29, an average 12.2 per cent per day of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution came from farm stubble fire smoke. This was considerably higher than previous years – in 2019, contributions stood at 8.9 per cent per day, while it was 10.9 per cent per day in 2018. On an average, while the 2020-21 winter season was 5 per cent worse in major NCR cities and Delhi compared to the 2019-20 season, the peak pollution was 13 per cent lower. Some of it can be misleading. In 2019-20 for example, even though the average level during the winter was less than in other winters, the peak daily pollution was considerably higher across all major NCR cities. This was due to the September-October rains that pushed and concentrated the farm stubble burning towards the end of October and start of November.

इस साल दिल्ली-एनसीआर की हवा हो सकती है सबसे दमघोंटू, जानिए वजह

नई दिल्ली: आमतौर पर मानसून के बाद और सर्दियों की आहट के महीने अक्टूबर में दिल्ली वालों को जानलेवा हवा (Air Pollution) का सामना करना पड़ता है. हालांकि इस बार हालात पिछले सालों जितने बुरे नहीं हैं. हवा खराब लेकिन पहले से बेहतर अक्टूबर के महीने में हवा की क्वालिटी (Air Pollution) खराब तो हुई है. फिर भी यह मॉडरेट और खराब यानी Poor के बीच की क्वालिटी बनी हुई है. जबकि पिछले सालों में इस महीने एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स पर दिल्ली की हवा बेहद खराब यानी Very Poor स्तर में रही है. दिल्ली में इस साल पिछले 4 सालों का सबसे साफ मानसून सीजन भी दर्ज हुआ है. इस वर्ष अभी तक 96 दिन दिल्ली की हवा सांस लेने लायक रही है. जबकि पीएम PM 2.5 का स्तर 41 के औसत पर रहा है. वर्ष 2018 के मुकाबले हर वर्ष 6 फीसदी की दर से साफ दिनों में बढ़ोतरी हुई है. दिल्ली में कर्णी सिंह शूटिंग रेंज और नेशनल स्टेडियम में सबसे अच्छी हवा दर्ज की गई. कर्णी सिंह रेंज में पीएम 2.5 का स्तर 33 के औसत पर रहा. इसी तरह नेशनल स्टेडियम में 100 दिनों तक हवा का स्तर बेहतर बना रहा है. इस मौसम में भी दिल्ली में आनंद विहार का हाल सबसे खराब रहा. वहां केवल 54 दिनों तक ही साफ हवा रह पाई. जबकि मॉनसून के पूरे सीजन का औसत दिल्ली में 66 दिन था. पंजाब बाग बना प्रदूषण का हॉट स्पॉट आनंद विहार के अलावा पंजाबी बाग को भी दिल्ली में प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) का हॉट स्पॉट माना गया है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट के आंकलन के मुताबिक इस बार अच्छी बारिश की वजह से अभी हवा का स्तर ठीक बना हुआ है. हालांकि सीएसई की एक्सपर्ट अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी का मानना है कि इससे ये अंदाजा नहीं लगाया जा सकता कि सर्दियों में दिल्ली एनसीआर की हवा कैसी रहेगी. हालांकि दिल्ली की गर्मियां इस साल पिछले साल के मुकाबले थोड़ी खराब रही हैं. पिछले साल संपूर्ण लॉकडाउन की वजह से दिल्ली में हवा (Air Pollution) गर्मियों में भी अच्छी थी लेकिन इस साल लॉकडाउन के फायदे से लोग महरुम रह गए और वो असर खत्म हो गया. 2020 में गर्मियों में पीएम 2.5 का औसत 79 था जो 90 दिनों तक बना रहा. इस वर्ष केवल 51 दिन ऐसे थे जब ये औसत बरकरार रह पाया. दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में पराली का योगदान हर साल 10 अक्टूबर के आसपास खेतों में पराली जलने का असर दिल्ली में दिखने लगता है. इस वर्ष भी ऐसा ही हुआ. अभी तक 16 अक्टूबर के दिन पराली का असर सबसे ज्यादा देखा गया है. सरकारी एप सफर के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक 16 अक्टूबर को दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में पराली का योगदान 14 प्रतिशत था. अक्टूबर खत्म होने और नवंबर की शुरुआत में ये योगदान हर साल 40 प्रतिशत तक का हो जाता है, जो दिल्ली के हालात सबसे खराब कर देता है. ये वही दिन होते हैं, जब लोगों के लिए दिल्ली एनसीआर में बंद घरों में भी सांस लेना दूभर हो जाता है. एक्सपर्ट्स का मानना है कि वो बुरे दिन आने वाले हैं. दिल्ली एनसीआर में पीएम 2.5 के अलावा कार्बन मोनोक्सॉइड और ओजोन गैस भी काफी प्रदूषण करती हैं. लोगों का दम घोंट देता है पराली का धुआं 2020 में 1 अक्टूबर से 29 नवंबर के बीच दिल्ली में मौजूद हवा के प्रदूषण वाले PM 2.5 के कणों में रोज़ाना 12 प्रतिशत योगदान पराली के धुएं का रहा. जबकि 2019 में इसी दौरान ये आंकड़ा 8.9 प्रतिशत था. 2018 में 10.9 प्रतिशत प्रतिदिन पराली के धुएं ने दिल्ली की हवा खराब करने में अपना योगदान दिया. गौर करने वाली बात ये है कि दिल्ली की हवा (Air Pollution) खराब करने में पराली का योगदान हर साल कई गुना बढ़ा है. अगर औसत देखें तो 2018 में औसतन दिल्ली का प्रदूषण पराली का धुआं रोज 12 प्रतिशत की दर से बढ़ा रहा था जबकि2020 में ये बढ़कर 36 प्रतिशत हो गया. यानी पिछले साल सर्दियों के मौसम में पराली की वजह से दिल्ली में 36 प्रतिशत प्रदूषण बढ़ गया. कैसी थी पिछले साल की सर्दियां? पिछले साल प्रदूषण बाकी वर्षों से कम रहा है. 2020–21 की सर्दियों में 23 दिन दिल्ली एनसीआर की हवा 23 दिन Severe या बेहद गंभीर कैटेगरी में रही. 2019-20 में 25 दिन और 2018-19 में 34 दिन ऐसा रहा. ये वो दिन होते हैं जब दिल्ली में GRAP यानी Graded Response Action Plan लागू रहता है. इस बार दिल्ली में 14 लोकेशन को प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) का हॉट स्पॉट माना गया है. इनमें से 50 प्रतिशत जगहों में पिछले साल के मुकाबले हवा बेहतर रही है. लेकिन 3 नई जगहें जुड़ी हैं. राजस्थान का भिवाड़ी, हरियाणा का मानेसर और फरीदाबाद का सेक्टर 11 हवा के लिहाज़ से नए प्रदूषित हॉट स्पॉट बन गए हैं. वज़ीरपुर और साहिबाबाद में हालात बेहतर हुए हैं. ये भी पढ़ें- जज ही निकला रेपिस्ट, कोर्ट ने बलात्कार और धोखाधड़ी का ठहराया दोषी सर्दी में फैल सकता है तेज कोहरा सीएसई (CSE Latest Report) ने ये आंकलन 1 जनवरी 2018 से 15 अक्टूबर 2021 के PM 2.5 के स्तर के आधार पर किया है. इसके लिए देश के 67 शहरों में लगे 156 ambient air quality monitoring stations का डाटा देखा गया. हालांकि रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक बारिश का असर देर से आया है, इसलिए इस बार स्मॉग यानी दमघोंटू प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) का असर पहले सालों के मुकाबले और खराब हो सकता है. इस बार बारिश का असर देर तक रहा है. इसलिए कोहरे के हालात नहीं बने. लेकिन इस बार तेज़ सर्दी आते आते बारिश का असर खत्म हो चुका होगा. ऐसे में तेज़ सर्दी में गहरा कोहरा मिलकर खतरनाक स्मॉग बना सकते हैं. इससे सावधान रहने और अभी एक्शन लेने की ज़रुरत है.

Faridabad, Manesar pollution hotspots in NCR even during monsoon, says CSE study

These two regions reported high pollution levels during the season, found a recent analysis of air quality trends conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment Faridabad and Manesar in the National Capital Region (NCR) were identified as pollution hotspots this monsoon as when most of NCR breathed clean air, these two regions reported high pollution levels during the season, found a recent analysis of air quality trends conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which released the data on Friday evening. The study found Faridabad’s Sector 11 had the worst air this monsoon in the NCR with 64 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) of pollutants. The analysis is a continuation of the air quality tracker initiative of the Urban Data Analytics Lab of the CSE that was started last winter. The objective of this new analysis is to understand the starting line of the onset of pollution during the pre-winter levels in this region. The analysis assessed the annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration from January 1, 2018 to October 15, 2021. As part of the study, 14 new locations in NCR were identified last winter as emerging hotspots, half of which registered lower PM 2.5 concentration this monsoon compared to city and regional averages. Three more locations, including Manesar and Faridabad’s Sector 11, emerged as potential pollution hotspots this monsoon. The analysis shows these locations show significantly higher seasonal average compared to the rest of the region. Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager for sustainable cities with CSE, said, “During monsoon, there are no external factors, such as temperature drop and stubble burning that come into play during winter, that will affect the air quality. Still Faridabad, Manesar and other cities of Haryana had high pollution levels. Usually, the rain washes down all pollutants, but higher levels indicate that local sources of pollution are not being controlled.” “If during monsoon, high levels of pollution are being reported when most of Delhi-NCR had good air quality, it will be very difficult to meet targets during winter, when external factors affect the air quality,” he added. According to the 2009 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the permissible PM2.5 level over a year-long period is 40µg/m³--eight times more than the revised threshold set by the World Health Organisation. The seasonal average of air pollutants in Faridabad (42), Gurugram (44), Manesar (51) and Dharuhera (43) during monsoon this year (from July 1 till October 15) was higher than the annual average. S Narayanan, member secretary of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), said, “I am yet to go through the data. I will not be able to comment before studying it. All measures are being taken to ensure that pollution levels are under control during the winter season.” Meanwhile, the air quality in Gurugram was in the moderate category. The Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality bulletin showed Gurugram had an air quality index (AQI) of 164 on Friday. With an AQI of 183, Faridabad district also recorded moderate air quality, though slightly poorer than Gurugram. Over the next two days, the city is likely to receive one or two spells of rain, which might improve the air quality. According to the weather bulletin issued on Friday by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the air quality in the national capital territory will remain ‘moderate’ on Saturday and is likely to improve on Sunday, owing to rainfall and strong winds. The contribution of biomass burning in PM2.5 concentration is also likely to be less than 5% and reduce significantly over the weekend.

Delhi: Average PM2.5 level for monsoon, pre-winter season lowest in 4 years

Delhi: Average PM2.5 level for monsoon, pre-winter season lowest in 4 years NEW DELHI: An analysis done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says the average PM2.5 concentration of monsoon and pre-winter season (July 1 to October 15) was lowest in 2021 compared with the last four years.Track the pollution level in your city However, a delayed start of winter with multiple spurts of rain, as seen in 2019-20, is similar to the conditions prevailing this year. It can be expected that smog might have higher peak pollution this year if special steps are not taken to reduce the pollution from the sources. As Delhi recorded excess rainfall, it resulted in the cleanest monsoon in the last four years. The city-wide average for the monsoon and pre-winter season this year stood at 41 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3), with 96 days meeting the 24-hour standard for PM2.5. There was a progressive increase in the number of cleaner days with an average 6% annual improvement since 2018, said CSE. Though winter began on October 15 at a cleaner level, CSE’s analysis stated that 2021-22 might have higher peak pollution. “On average, the 2020-21 winter season was 5% worse among the major NCR cities and Delhi compared with last year, but the peak pollution on average was 13% lower,” it added. “Even though the average level during 2019-20 was lesser than other winters, the peak daily pollution was considerably higher across all major NCR cities. This can be attributed to September and October rainfall that pushed and concentrated the farm stubble burning towards the end of October and start of November when winter conditions were turning more adverse,” CSE’s report further stated. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, said, “The winter of 2021 is starting with a cleaner threshold compared with the previous years, largely due to the intense and prolonged effect of the monsoon. While winter pollution cannot be predicted at this moment, the evidence of rising summer pollution in 2021 despite the lockdown and the evidence of a synchronised effect of winter pollution across the Indo-Gangetic Plain add to our concern. How soon and intensely the winter pollution will hit us will depend on the scale and speed of action across the region and leveraging it for more sustained air quality gains.” However, summer 2021 was more polluted as the seasonal average rose to 79 ug/m3 and the number of days meeting the prescribed standard was 51, as against 90 in 2020. “PM2.5 levels this summer have almost returned to the 2019 levels despite the partial lockdowns,” mentioned the report. The report also said that particulate pollution dominated the daily pollution in Delhi during pre-winter season (September 1 to October 15), but other gaseous pollutants, like ozone and carbon monoxide, had become the lead pollutants along with particulate pollution of the day due to washout effect of rain.

Winter season starting with better air than last 3 years: CSE

Analysis shows this is due to intense and prolonged effect of monsoon this year The winter season this year is starting with much cleaner air compared to the last three years in Delhi, the Nation Capital Region and the Indo-Gangetic Plain region, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). . The analysis covers 156 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations spread across 67 cities in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. “The 2021 winter is starting with a cleaner threshold than the previous years, largely due to the intense and prolonged effect of the monsoons. How soon and intensely the winter pollution will hit us will depend on the scale and speed of action across the region and leveraging it for more sustained air quality gains,” said CSE executive director Anumita Roychowdhury. This year, the number of farm fires pre-winter has been less than half of the last year count, and the lower number correlates well with the lower pollution in Delhi-NCR, according to the analysis. But it has warned that the lower count, as reported by satellite imagery, could also be due to increased cloud cover, which prevents satellites from spotting fires. During September and October this year, the number of days with ‘satisfactory’ levels of air quality has increased to 90%, compared with 43% in 2018. However, it was 27% in 2020. A similar pattern is seen in the “moderately polluted” category, the CSE said. ‘Urgent action needed’ “Delhi and the larger region will require urgent action to prevent severe smog episodes and speed up deeper reforms to sustain the gains. Reduce traffic volume, eliminate waste burning, eliminate dirty industrial fuels, and implement stringent dust control measures, especially in the construction sector. Act now, and act decisively,” Ms. Roychowdhury said. Air pollution in the city spikes during the winter season mainly because of the combined effect of stubble-burning in the neighbouring States and climatic conditions, that lower the wind speed and mixing height, thus trapping pollutants.

Good news for Delhi: Pollution lower, winter beginning on cleaner note

PM 2.5 levels begin to breach the 24-hour standard resulting in bad air days when the monsoon retreats. This began in September in 2018 and 2020, while it was delayed to October in 2019 and 2021. Meteorological conditions causing an extended period of rainfall this year have meant that the 2021 winter is beginning with a “cleaner threshold” compared to previous years, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis assesses PM 2.5 levels from January 1, 2018, to October 15, 2021. PM 2.5 levels begin to breach the 24-hour standard resulting in bad air days when the monsoon retreats. This began in September in 2018 and 2020, while it was delayed to October in 2019 and 2021. The period from September 1 to October 15 is considered to be ‘pre-winter’ in the analysis. According to figures provided by CSE, the average PM 2.5 level for the pre-winter season this year was 42 µg/m3, lower than 62 µg/m3 in 2020, 51 µg/m3 in 2019, and 59 µg/m3 in 2018. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at CSE, said, “The intense monsoon and delayed rains this year contributed to a relatively cleaner pre-winter season this year. What we are seeing now is the effect of the weather. The fire count is lower, but that could also be because of the rains delaying the fires. We cannot predict to what extent the pollution is going to bounce back this winter. We cannot take it for granted that a cleaner pre-winter period will assure a cleaner winter.” CSE’s analysis of fire count data from the NASA satellites indicates that fire count in the pre-winter season this year is less than half of what was recorded last year. This is attributed to the rain spells witnessed this year or cloud cover which may have hampered satellite imagery. The fire count (aggregate for Punjab and Haryana) for the pre-winter season last year was 5,078, as opposed to 2,351 this year. In 2019, it stood at 2,299, up from 1,765 in 2018. The total count for the winter season in 2020 was 75,600, a rise from 48,155 in 2019, and 63,979 in 2018. The contribution of farm stubble burning to air quality began around October 10, 2021, same as in 2018 and 2020, the analysis noted. This contribution peaked on October 16 this year when 14% of PM 2.5 levels in Delhi were attributed to stubble burning by the SAFAR monitoring system. The contribution of stubble burning to PM 2.5 levels can go up to 40%. The average contribution per day last year was 12.2%, higher than 8.9% per day in 2019, and 10.9% per day in 2018. Last winter, PM 2.5 levels were in the severe category for 23 days, down from 25 in 2019-20, and 34 days in the winter of 2018-19. The winter seasonal average PM 2.5 level was 194 µg/m3 in 2020, 180 µg/m3 in 2019, and 200 µg/m3 in 2018. Delhi saw a cleaner monsoon this year, but a more polluted summer. The analysis indicates that this year, the monsoon season was the ‘cleanest’ for Delhi since 2018. The average PM 2.5 levels over the monsoon season this year was 41 µg/m3, compared to 44 µg/m3 in 2020, 46 µg/m3 in 2019 and 49 µg/m3 in 2018. The summer this year showed higher PM 2.5 levels than 2020. Summer in 2020 saw an average PM 2.5 level of 57 µg/m3, while this year recorded a higher average of 79 µg/m3.

Good news for Delhi: Pollution lower, winter beginning on cleaner note

Meteorological situations inflicting an prolonged interval of rainfall this yr have meant that the 2021 winter is starting with a “cleaner threshold” in comparison with earlier years, based on an evaluation by the Centre for Science and Atmosphere (CSE). The evaluation assesses PM 2.5 ranges from January 1, 2018, to October 15, 2021. PM 2.5 ranges start to breach the 24-hour normal leading to dangerous air days when the monsoon retreats. This started in September in 2018 and 2020, whereas it was delayed to October in 2019 and 2021. The interval from September 1 to October 15 is taken into account to be ‘pre-winter’ within the evaluation. In accordance with figures supplied by CSE, the typical PM 2.5 stage for the pre-winter season this yr was 42 µg/m3, decrease than 62 µg/m3 in 2020, 51 µg/m3 in 2019, and 59 µg/m3 in 2018. Anumita Roychowdhury, government director, analysis and advocacy at CSE, mentioned, “The extreme monsoon and delayed rains this yr contributed to a comparatively cleaner pre-winter season this yr. What we’re seeing now’s the impact of the climate. The fireplace rely is decrease, however that may be due to the rains delaying the fires. We can not predict to what extent the air pollution goes to bounce again this winter. We can not take it with no consideration {that a} cleaner pre-winter interval will guarantee a cleaner winter.” CSE’s evaluation of fireside rely knowledge from the NASA satellites signifies that fireplace rely within the pre-winter season this yr is lower than half of what was recorded final yr. That is attributed to the rain spells witnessed this yr or cloud cowl which can have hampered satellite tv for pc imagery. The fireplace rely (combination for Punjab and Haryana) for the pre-winter season final yr was 5,078, versus 2,351 this yr. In 2019, it stood at 2,299, up from 1,765 in 2018. The whole rely for the winter season in 2020 was 75,600, an increase from 48,155 in 2019, and 63,979 in 2018. The contribution of farm stubble burning to air high quality started round October 10, 2021, similar as in 2018 and 2020, the evaluation famous. This contribution peaked on October 16 this yr when 14% of PM 2.5 ranges in Delhi had been attributed to stubble burning by the SAFAR monitoring system. The contribution of stubble burning to PM 2.5 ranges can go as much as 40%. The typical contribution per day final yr was 12.2%, increased than 8.9% per day in 2019, and 10.9% per day in 2018. Final winter, PM 2.5 ranges had been within the extreme class for 23 days, down from 25 in 2019-20, and 34 days within the winter of 2018-19. The winter seasonal common PM 2.5 stage was 194 µg/m3 in 2020, 180 µg/m3 in 2019, and 200 µg/m3 in 2018. Delhi noticed a cleaner monsoon this yr, however a extra polluted summer time. The evaluation signifies that this yr, the monsoon season was the ‘cleanest’ for Delhi since 2018. The typical PM 2.5 ranges over the monsoon season this yr was 41 µg/m3, in comparison with 44 µg/m3 in 2020, 46 µg/m3 in 2019 and 49 µg/m3 in 2018. The summer time this yr confirmed increased PM 2.5 ranges than 2020. Summer time in 2020 noticed a median PM 2.5 stage of 57 µg/m3, whereas this yr recorded the next common of 79 µg/m3.