The level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) at the Chokhi Dhani was 376 microgrammes per cubic metre of air, which is significantly according to CPCB's ambient air quality standards.
The country's top pollution watchdog today said the smoke billowing out of the fire that raged in the Jaipur IOC depot had polluted air quality over the Pink City but had no significant impact in Delhi or nearby Agra, specifically the Taj Mahal.
In its interim report submitted to the environment ministry, a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) team which had gone to the spot to access the environmental damage said on Oct 31, the level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) at the Chokhi Dhani monitoring station on the outskirts of Jaipur was 376 microgrammes per cubic metre of air.
This is significantly high as the annual average in a residential area is supposed to be 140, according to CPCB's ambient air quality standards.
The seven-member team said the impact of the explosion was observed as far as 1 km distance, where cracks in buildings were evident while the burnt metal pieces (metal flakes) was found to have spread all over the agricultural field at a distance of about 5km.
Eleven storage tanks of the IOC went up in flames on the evening of Oct 29 and the blaze raged till November 6.
Similarly, the report points out that the level of respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) — which is more dangerous for lungs — was 268 microgrammes per cubic metre, more than four times the CPCB standard of 60.
On November 1, the level of oxides of nitrogen was 63.6 microgrammes per cubic metre, higher than the CPCB standard of 60, the team said.While the team's final report is awaited, its interim report says there was no impact of the fire in the national capital or Agra — both just about 200km from Jaipur — nor in Gurgaon, which is right next to Delhi on the way to Jaipur.
During this period, at the capital's ITO crossing, the highest SPM level was 747 microgrammes per cubic metre of RSPM, 338 of oxides of nitrogen and 103 of sulphur dioxide.
While these figures are far above the permissible limits, they show no appreciable variance from the days before the fire, the report says.
"The observed data in Delhi does not indicate any impact of the fire on the air quality. Wind direction was observed and reported from South-South West, West-West North and in most cases variable both at Jaipur and Delhi.
"Jaipur being located South-West of Delhi, on such wind pattern condition, significant impact is not expected in Delhi."
Following analysis of the data, the team said that, "it appears that the prevailing meteorological conditions, moderate temperature, low humidity, bright sunlight and changing wind direction with probable higher mixing height is helping a lot to disperse the smoke."
"Apparently the ground level pollution at nearby areas seems under control," the report added.
The Rajasthan government has constituted a five-member high level committee under the chairmanship of the principal secretary, Department of Environment, to assess the environmental impact of the fire.
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