Delhi's air quality for the January to August period this year has been better than the corresponding period in 2016 and 2017, even as no 'good' air days have been recorded till now, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said on Monday.

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The pollution watchdog claimed that certain measures such as Graded Response Action Plan, banning of pet coke, closure of Badarpur power plant and meteorological factors could be attributed for the marginal improvement in air quality.

A comparative analysis of the Air Quality Index (AQI) for the January-August period for the past three years showed that 'satisfactory' AQI was recorded on 118 days in 2018 as opposed to 113 in 2017 and 74 in 2016. Further, this year saw 120 days with 'very poor' air, which was lesser than 125 recorded in 2017 and 153 in 2016.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and Particulate matter 10 (PM10) levels showed a slight improvement compared to past couple of years. The pre-monsoon dust storms and a poor air episode during the winter in January, though, were exceptions that led to a spike in pollution levels. On June 13, Delhi-NCR witnessed a dust storm and the PM10 levels had reached a severe level of 835 micrograms/metre cube.

CPCB officials said that measures to tackle winter pollution would be rolled out in a fortnight. Like last year, 40 teams would be monitoring emission sources from Delhi's across Delhi's length and breadth by 40 teams. This data would be submitted to Delhi government and central agencies to formulate appropriate action.

Further, three pilot studies, funded from the Environment Protection Fund, would be tested during the coming winter months. Wind Augmentation and Air Purifying Units (WAYU) air filters, developed by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute along with the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay would be one of them. Tested in Mumbai, the air filters have to be installed at congested traffic junctions. The air filters collect dust at the busy traffic junctions, separate pollutants from the air and release air back.

Dust suppressants would be another pilot to be tested. These would be fitted in and around construction sites.

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CPCB officials said that measures to tackle winter pollution would be rolled out in a fortnight. Like last year, 40 teams would be monitoring emission sources from Delhi’s across Delhi’s length and breadth by 40 teams.