Air has many gases which are in a fixed composition. When the composition of these gases is disturbed, it makes the air unfit for breathing. This is called Air Pollution. Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The composition of Delhi’s air has varied in the past ten years.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has taken the responsibility for keeping a check on the quality of air. Three major pollutants which are monitored are Sulphur-di-oxide (SO2), Nitrogen-di-oxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10). Some minor pollutants are also monitored.
Delhi has Air monitoring stations that keep a check. Various organizations like Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) have their stations in different parts of the city. They report real time ambient air quality.
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Air Quality is measured by calculating the micrograms of pollutant present in unit metre cubic volume. Air Quality Index (AQI) monitors air quality in cities to determine how safe the air is for breathing. The lower the AQI value, the lesser impact it has on our health. An AQI of less than 50 is considered safe. But a value exceeding 400 is hazardous..
According to the latest forecast, the average pollutant concentration value in Okhla Phase 2 of SO2 is 10, NO2 is 26, and PM10 is 84. The AQI is 84. However, different areas in Delhi have different results. In Sirifort, the maximum pollutant concentration of PM10 is 455. The AQI here is 215. For Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, the average pollutant concentration of PM10 is 52. In many parts of Delhi, SO2 concentration is not even calculated beacuase its concentration is significantly less in these areas. Overall, the AQI of Delhi is 92.
In 2009, the average pollutant concentration value in Delhi of SO2, NO2 and PM10 was 6, 50 and 252 respectively. The numbers did not change much in six years as the values in 2015 were 4, 48 and 228 respectively. But as of today, the values are 9, 17 and 83 respectively.
Based on these findings, some things that can be concluded are:
- The pollutant concentration values are not constant throughout Delhi. Some areas have near to safe air, whereas some areas have hazardous air quality.
- There has been a major improvement in the pollutant concentration since 2015. The concentrations of NO2 and PM10 have decreased significantly. However the SO2 has increased by more than 100%.
- Over the past few years, the AQI of Delhi has decreased. However the decreased value is not very significant.
There are many factors that are responsible for high pollution levels in Delhi. The major factor is the high number of vehicles in Delhi. The more the people use public transport, the better it is.
Another factor that can be considered is the location. Delhi is surrounded by cities like Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida. Therefore it becomes difficult for the pollutants to escape.
Season change also makes it difficult to control Air pollution. In winters, the combination of smoke and fog results in smog, which apart from affecting breathing, also affects the visibility.
The Odd-Even scheme has caused many people inconvenience. However, it also resulted in an improved quality of air. Some other kinds of initiatives have also contributed to the same.
