Onset of cold weather in the Capital has brought its adverse side — air pollution five times higher than the national standard and worse that India’s most polluted hubs such as Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Ankleshwar in Gujarat.
The air pollution data available with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that the pollution levels in Delhi on Thursday was highest in 2012 with Anand Vihar recording respirable suspended particular matter (RSPM) level of 709 in per cubic meter of air (ug/m3).
The average RSPM – general measure of pollutants in air — in Delhi was 571 ug/m3 more than five times the national standard of 100 ug/m3 for the pollutant in residential areas.
The worrisome fact for health of Delhiities is that the winter RSPM levels has more than doubled in the last five years and is higher than the mid-1990s level when public transport used to run on diesel.
Till mid 2000s, busy Central and South Delhi areas were high air pollution zones. Now the dirty air has spread to even cleaner residential areas such as Rohini in north Delhi and Dwarka in west Delhi with RSPM level of more than 500 ug/m3.
“The data clearly shows that the increasing number of vehicles in the Capital is the biggest contributing factor for rising air pollution,” said Anumita Roy Choudhary of advocacy group Centre for Science and Environment.
Unlike other cities, industrial activity is restricted in Delhi and therefore, around 90 cars for every 1,000 people in the city is the prime contributor for rising pollution levels.
Winter is bad for people with heart ailments and breathing problems as the pollution remain suspended in air for long period in absence of heat for quick disbursal of the pollutants.
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