Delhi Air Pollution Alert! CPCB Wants Action Taken Against Violators

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to submit a report on mechanisms which are followed for daily monitoring of complaints related to air pollution and action taken against such complaints. 

The CPCB has sent a notice to DPCC and pollution control state boards of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. They have asked them to list action taken against illegal industries, penalty levied and prosecution for violations related to construction and demolition activities. 

In December, Delhi had recorded over 1,700 pollution violations. Maximum of them were from construction and demolition activity, as well as from open dumping of garbage. 

Now, in view of several pollution violations, the CPCB has asked the DPCC and other state boards to submit a bi-weekly action taken report on every Tuesday and Friday.  

According to the CPCB, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 237, which is in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday. 

The air quality was severe till Sunday but with improved wind speed which was blowing at 20 km/hour, the air quality significantly improved and was recorded in poor category. As many as 26 areas recorded ‘poor’ air quality and four ‘moderate’.  

However, NCR, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida recorded ‘poor’ air quality. The concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 was 166 and 92 microgramme per cubic metre. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the overall air quality index, which is poor, is likely to improve faster.  

Use of Remote Sensing for Monitoring Pollution:  

A study is currently on to assess the viability of detecting heavy polluting vehicles through remote sensing in Delhi-NCR. Last year, the apex court had issued directions regarding trials for remote sensing equipment to be used for monitoring pollution from on-road vehicles. The ICAT has tested at least 70,000 vehicles so far as a part of this study, which is likely to be completed by February.