EPCA to issue warning if pollution levels enter 'severe plus' category in the next 48 hours
The Capital's air came close to'severe'category on Monday with the air quality index (AQI) at 390 units. Though still in the'very poor'category, the index bordered the 'severe' air pollution levels, over six times above the prescribed standards of 60 units.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) — a Supreme Court mandated body — said if pollution levels enter'severe plus (500+)' category in the next 48 hours, it will issue emergency directions.
No movement in the air and emissions from the NCR towns led to the spike in pollutants, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said. This comes a day after much hue an cry was raised as Sri Lankan cricketers wore anti-pollution masks during the test match at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Sunday.
The PM 2.5 — most prominent pollutant in Delhi NCR — had reached past 400 during the day. NCR towns, including Ghaziabad, Noida had'severe'levels of pollution at 467 units and 415 units, respectively.
Gurugram and Faridabad remained high up in the'very poor'category --- at 323 and 394 units, respectively. The units for pollution concentrations are measured in microgramms per cubic meters. "Meteorological conditions, in particular, no wind speed coupled with fuel emissions from vehicles and industries in NCR towns is resulting in foul air. If the wind speed picks up the pace in the coming days, it will get better. However, if conditions reach 'severe plus' category for 48 hours, we will issue fresh emergency directions," said Bhure Lal, EPCA chairman.
The monitoring stations under the CPCB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) recorded high PM 2.5 concentrations above 300-400 units --- R K Puram (442), Anand Vihar (476), DTU (390), NSIT Dwarka (367) and Mother Dairy Plant, Patparganj shooting up to (515).
"There is a depression in the south and west with no movement of air on the Indo-Gangetic plains. There is a condition of complete calm, which means there are no winds to disperse the pollutants. However, light rain is expected in Delhi on Thursday, which will help clear the air and improve the air quality," said Dipankar Saha, chief of Air Laboratory, CPCB. 'Very poor' AQI comes with the warning that people may develop respiratory illness on prolonged exposure air affects healthy people and seriously impact those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
GASPING ALREADY
- NCR towns, including Ghaziabad, Noida had ‘severe’ levels at 467 and 415 units, respectively.
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