The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has found that the Indira Gandhi Airport (IGI) has much higher level of pollution as compared to the Mandir Marg area in central Delhi and RK Puram in South Delhi. A combination of winter fog and calm weather conditions is leading to the perpetual haze enveloping the airport since last week. Also, because the suspended particulate matter is much higher at the Airport than the city side, the haze is thicker at the airport, especially during the morning hours. These conditions were responsible to disrupt flight movements and create panic during the last few days.  

RK Janamani, Director, Airport Meteorological Department, said, “Though the dense fog conditions enveloped the city on November 20 and 21, it is haze that is continuing and here to stay.

The large numbers of pollutant particles suspended in the air are unable to get dispersed in the absence of windy conditions. Since the particulate matter is much higher at the airport side, the haze formed is much thicker than the city side. This haze and smog is here to stay and flights will have to battle with the visibility dropped due to this.”

The suspended particulate matter of 10 microgram per cubic metre (PM 10) recorded late in the evening was 999.35 as compared to 422 at Mandir Marg and 292 at RK Puram. Dr M.P George, scientist, Air Lab at DPCC said, “The airport is more susceptible to pollution than the city side because it has large open spaces. The open spaces have lesser green patches due to which the dust particles get settled in the air, as compared to the other areas of Delhi. Pollutants from the highly polluted Gurgaon region also make their entry into the air surrounding the airport, raising its pollution level.”

Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “According to our study from Nov 16-23, for the last eight days, the levels of the particulate matter of size 2.5 microgram per metre has exceeded 2.3 to 3.4 times than the set standards. These micro-particles are most harmful for humans. Also, the ozone levels have doubled in the five days (nov 18-23) than the prescribed standards of 100 microgram per cubic metre.”

She elaborated that the high pollution levels at the airport are a combination of the very high traffic intensity in and around the airport. Due to the busiest airport in India, it has an influx of Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) as well as the motorized vehicles around it. A DIAL spokesperson said, “IGI is the busiest airport of the country and on an average handles 900 flights per day.

The number of flights jumps to 960 on some days.”

Chowdhury, however, added that it is difficult to ascertain the amount of pollution caused due to emission of the Air Turbine Fuel (ATF).

She said, “This is because India does not have emission guidelines in place to quantify the pollutants emitted by the aircrafts. However, while taking off the smoke emitted definitely results in raising the levels of harmful gases such as Nitrogen Dioxide and Carbon Dioxide.”

However, some airlines such as IndiGo are abiding by the international prescribed norms and opting for aircraft, which are highly advanced on engineering. Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo said, “We have recently ordered for 180 new Airbus A320 neo-aircraft that will be powered by two PurePower PW1100G engine. These aircraft will help us with reduced emissions and significant savings in fuel consumption.”