Day after the festival of lights was celebrated, Delhi’s environment Minister Imran Hussian released the ambient air data with special reference to “Deepawali”.
As per the assessment made by Delhi Government on the bases of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s meters , this year, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for Particulate Matter (10) ranged from 167 µg/m3 to 1859 µg/m3. The minimum value was observed at 3:00 pm and maximum value was observed at 01:00 am.
The location wise minimum concentration was observed at Najafgarh (241 µg/m3) and maximum concentration was observed at Ashok Vihar (1494 µg/m3) whereas, last year, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM10 ranged from 331 µg/m3 to 951 µg/m3.
The minimum average value was observed at Civil Lines and maximum average value was observed at Anand Vihar. For PM 2.5 , this year, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM 2.5 ranged from 69 µg/m3 to 1560 µg/m3.
The minimum value was observed at 3:00 pm and maximum value was observed at 01:00 am. The location wise minimum concentration was observed at Najafgarh (143 µg/m3) and maximum concentration was observed at Ashok Vihar (1252 µg/m3) whereas, in 2017, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM 2.5 ranged from 154 µg/m3 to 440 µg/m3. The minimum average value was observed at Civil Lines and maximum average value was observed at RK Puram.
According to data, Jahangirpuri, Ashok Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Wazirpur, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and RK Puram are the areas where values of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) ranged between exceeded 1000 µg/m3 .
Other areas such as; Sonia Vihar, Patparganj, Vivek Vihar, Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, Jwaharlal Nehru Stadium, Dwarka, Mundka, Rohini, Okhla, Bawana and IGI Airport where value generally is less than 1000 µg/m3, however, Najafgarh, Alipur, Narela, Dr. Karni Singh shooting range, Shri Aurobindo Marg, Pusa, Civil Lines and Mandir Marg are stations where values are found less than 500 µg/m3.
In context of fire cracking, the Delhi Government also released the data of real time ‘Noise Monitoring data that was undertaken at five locations in 2018. Its range was observed from 64.4 dB (A) to 74.0 dB (A), while in 2017 the range varied from 61.4 dB (A) to 68.2 dB (A).
“The level of pollutants showed an increase on the Diwali Day. The major changes observed after 8:00 pm when the fireworks started,” an official statement issued by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) read.
