Delhi’s air quality deteriorated ‘severely’ as on Monday as the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI) plunged values  of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) twenty times higher than prescribed standards. A thick haze engulfed the national Capital two days ahead of Diwali, following which, experts have warned, the air quality is likely to worsen further due to local factors.

Not surprisingly, wind speed played pivotal role and as per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), on Monday, the wind speed was recorded at 15 km per hour against 30 km per hour recorded on Sunday.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality in twenty areas of the city was recorded as ‘severe’, however, the overall Air Quality recorded by SAFAR was 417 and 227 in micro cubic per gram, and the average value was 375.

Benzene (the volatile organic compound), the most carcinogenic pollutant in Delhi, was also three times higher than the prescribed standards.  Meanwhile,  Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussian has asked all the civic agencies, including Municipal Corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Work Department (PWD) to be on full alert as the air quality may dip further. Hussian directed civic agencies to ensure that the vehicles carrying garbage/ malba to the landfill sites are properly covered.  The vehicles must carry valid pollution under control certificates and that no vehicles are used which are more than 10 years old for transporting the garbage/ malba to the landfill sites. 

The Environment Minister also directed the intensification of water sprinkling on the roads in the coming days.   Citing reasons of stubble burning in neighbouring States and adverse meteorological conditions, Hussian directed concerned agencies to be on full alert and take all possible efforts for the control of air pollution given the spurt in stubble burning in neighbouring States and adverse metrological conditions.

Pertinently, SAFAR’s graph on major contributor — stubble burning was “high”, this further means that 33 percent of total pollution in Delhi was due to stubble burning.

“There has been a significant intrusion of bio-mass (stubble) generated pollution (33%) on November 5 which may decline rapidly now as upper winds are slow. Wind still coming from North-West Region which is unfavourable,” SAFAR mentioned in pollution mapping history with Delhi red map on meter .  In its air quality forecast for Tuesday, SAFAR mentioned, “The AQI is likely to go back to VERY POOR category from today’s SEVERE because. Although there is lot of moisture introduced in the air after the withdrawal of westerly disturbances but as no significant drop in temperature is observed, it may try to dry it up faster. The wind speed which was 29kmph at transport height (carrying half burned particles) is declining now (12kmph).

Delhi based environment think -tank - Center for Environment Science (CSE) said that action needs to be taken to minimize the use of private vehicles, which contribute nearly 40 per cent to air pollution in Delhi,

Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said when the authorities are ramping up emergency actions on all sectors why should vehicles be spared. She said traffic would increase due to Diwali shopping until November 7 which would further worsen the air quality and action needs to be taken against the vehicles.

 “The proposed action on private vehicles has to be seen within the larger context of how we are gradually ramping up emergency actions on all sectors. Today when we have gone to the extent of shutting power plants, brick kilns, hot mix plants and even gensets, the cars are actually coming last.

“So to say to make exception to cars is very wrong keeping in mind that all the new estimates are showing that private vehicles contribute towards 40 per cent of pollution,” Roychowdhury said during CSE’s Facebook Live programme on air pollution ‘Season of Smog’.

The Supreme-Court appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA)  had last week proposed a ban on use of private vehicles in case of further deterioration of air quality. “Diwali marketing is going to intensify and we have to take action on vehicles and these are temporary measures. It also means that all of us have to take responsibility to take public transport,” Roychowdhury added. Roychowdhury also said people can play a crucial role in building up pressure on authorities and demand action from them.

Worst affected places are Anand Vihar , Mundka , Dwarka , Punjbai Bagh, Rajouri Garden  and relatively good places are Mandir Marg and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNU).