CAPITAL'S AIR QUALITY DETERIORATES

CAPITAL'S AIR QUALITY DETERIORATES

The National Air Quality Index (NAQI) on Thursday measured air pollutants value four times higher than its safer limit.

Noxious air quality once gain has created uneasiness among city people. With rising levels of Particulate Matters, people have started complaining nausea and other breathing related problem.

Notably, air quality meters of all major pollution watch institutions have started showing “red mark” with gradual escalations of mass concentration of PM 10 and PM 2.5.

On Thursday, real time ambient meters of US Embassy was marked “hazardous” on Delhi air quality. Real time ambient meters of US Embassy has measured PM 10 value at 346 micro cubic per gram in Anand Vihar that is three times higher than its safer limit.

Not only Suspended Particulate Matters (SPM) but concentration of gaseous particles was also high. Values of Oxides of Nitrate, Benzene and Nitrogen oxide were also high on the ambient air index of DPCC meters.

In a bid to curb air pollution in winter, the Delhi Government on Thursday wrote to customs and the Delhi Police for prohibiting import and sale of harmful crackers. 

Environment Minister Imran Hussain said in its review meeting it has been decided to have effective coordination among all the pollution controlling agencies, including Districts Magistrates and SDMs (Revenue Department), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi Police, Traffic Police, Petroleum and Exposure Safety Organization (PESO) of Department of Explosive, Directorate of Education.

Also, Hussain said in order to keep pollution under control even as Delhites enjoy the festival season there is need for the compliance of orders of the Supreme Court dated July18, 2005 in WP(C) No. 72 of 1998 with Civil Appeal No. 3735 of 2005 regarding noise pollution and prevention especially relating to complete ban on bursting of sound emitting fire crackers between 10 and 6.

The Minister gave the instruction for the implementation of explosive rules with respect to fireworks by the manufacturers and inspecting teams comprising of area SDMs and Executive Engineers (DPCC) to be constituted to check availability of imported fire crackers in the market.

The Delhi Government has launched an anti fire cracker campaign to be

observed for the ongoing festive season. The Government is seeking active cooperation of all the enforcement agencies to monitor air and noise pollution especially during the festival season.

Sources in the DPCC said the Government is planning to implement the third phase of car rationing odd- even scheme in December. 

(THE PIONEER)