Diwali pollution management needs rethink: Delhi Pollution Control Committee

There is some dip in the average minimum and maximum levels compared to last year. 

 

But pollution level has seen rapid escalation beyond the standards and also very high short duration peaks during Diwali night – leading to high exposure levels, the release stated.

 

Diwali pollution has continued to add to the pollution woes in the city. Sustaining the pollution control efforts for further reduction in pollution levels is turning out to be an enormous challenge. This requires longer term strategy to address this problem, it said. 

 

The key highlights of Diwali pollution are as follow:

 

• The maximum average of PM2.5, the tiny killers, are nearly same as last year and more than eight times the standards; PM10 though lower than last year are still close to eight times the standards;

 

• SO2 which otherwise records very low level in Delhi has escalated beyond the standards.

 

• The maximum average of NO2 has certainly shown an increase from last year and has shot by more than two times the standards.

 

• CSE has also tracked the real time air pollution data reported in the official website of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee on the night of Diwali. This shows rapid build up of pollution after 5 pm and very high peak levels during night. Calm weather with nearly no wind blocked quick dispersal of smoke and pollutants. The pollution levels in residential areas including R K Puram, Punjabi Bagh, Mandir Marg, and Civil Lines have recorded higher levels than IGI airport and Anand Vihar that are otherwise the pollution hotspots. The crackers are burst maximum in residential areas. Such high level of exposures can lead to escalation in hospital admissions related to respiratory and cardiac symptoms.