Delhi Logs Worst Diwali Air In 5 Years (PM 2.5 Reading At One Station Over 83 Times The National 24-Hour Safe Limit), Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Delhi recorded its worst Diwali-day air quality since 2021, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 376 on Sunday.
• The highest hourly PM 2.5 reading was 4,985 µg/m³ at Jahangirpuri, which is over 83 times the national 24-hour safe limit of 60 µg/m³.
• The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) received 14 public complaints and generated 74 dust alerts, including 51 from construction sites, between Diwali night and Monday afternoon.
• Enforcement teams in Vayu Rakshak vehicles are deployed to address complaints regarding illegal firecracker bursting, waste burning, and construction dust.
• Pollution levels continued into Monday, with the city's average AQI remaining around 370, placing it in the 'Severe' category.

Delhi AQI.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• Delhi's Diwali-day AQI has shown a concerning trend, increasing from 218 in 2023 to 376 in the current year, indicating worsening air quality.
• The ICCC, established by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), utilizes AI-enabled cameras and real-time data for comprehensive monitoring of pollution sources and coordinating field-level enforcement actions.
• Complaints handled by the ICCC range from the burning of electronic waste and general dust pollution to specific violations at construction and demolition sites.
• Vayu Rakshak vehicles are operated by joint teams comprising junior engineers from the DPCC, personnel from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and Civil Defence staff for effective on-ground pollution control.
• The national 24-hour safe limit for PM 2.5 is 60 µg/m³, significantly higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³.
• Post-Diwali pollution is exacerbated by multiple factors including firecracker emissions, unfavorable meteorological conditions, stubble burning in neighboring states, and a drop in ambient temperatures.
• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), overseen by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), provides a structured framework of emergency measures activated based on the severity of air pollution levels.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Air Quality Index (AQI): A numerical scale used to communicate daily air quality levels, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and its associated health risks.
• Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 & PM 10): Microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in the air; PM 2.5 are fine particles that pose greater health risks due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): A statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for pollution control, monitoring, and setting environmental standards.
• Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC): A regulatory body responsible for implementing environmental laws and rules, and monitoring pollution levels within the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC): A centralized technological hub that integrates data from various sources for real-time monitoring, analysis, and coordinated response to urban issues, including environmental pollution.