“Very poor” quality air reigned in Delhi on the second day of the odd-even scheme, even as authorities released conflicting reports on the impact of the vehicular restrictions on January 1, primarily
“Very poor” quality air reigned in Delhi on the second day of the odd-even scheme, even as authorities released conflicting reports on the impact of the vehicular restrictions on January 1, primarily due to different comparative parameters.
The Delhi government issued a statement saying that level of pollutants showed a “marked decrease” as compared to previous year, while Teri said pollution levels were more than December 31 and “violated” the prescribed limits.
“The 24-hourly averaged concentrations at four locations (Mandir Marg, R.K. Puram, Pun-jabi Bagh and Anand Vihar) were observed and PM 10, PM 2.5 and NOx concentrations we-re found to be 5.4, 5.1, and 1.5 times higher th-an safe standards respe-ctively yesterday (Fri-day),” The Energy and Resource Institute said.
The government said that PM 2.5 (particulate matters less than 2.5 microns in size) measured in 24 locations across the city ranged between 121-226 micrograms per cubic metre. On an average, PM 2.5 hovered around 250 across the national capital in previous years on the same date, it said.
However, environmentalists have been all praises about the novel policy and feel that it will drastically make a difference in the air quality of the national capital which has termed as hazardous to inhale.
Although the impact of the reduced traffic flow was not immediately reflected in the levels of suspended particulate matter, any change, if at all, would only be clear in the days to come, when the restrictions are lifted, experts said.
Pollutant levels dipped by around 10 per cent on an average between 8 am and 2 pm on Friday as compared to the previous two days, “possibly” due to the odd-even restrictions, before rising sharply afterwards with a fall in day-time temperature, SAFAR scientists said.
Pollution levels on New Year day showed a “marked” decrease compared with the previous year, the Delhi government said on Saturday.
The mobile units of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) collected this data after monitoring each of the 24 locations for 20 minutes each.
