Delhi's Killer Dust (Dust is one villain in Delhi's pollution story, its levels don't depend on weather and it makes up over a third of the fine particles that clog lungs, inflame blood vessels. The good news is it can be controlled. The bad news,..., Pg1

Key Highlights:

• An investigation from March 2025 to March 2026 reveals that Delhi's Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) are underutilized and insufficient to combat dust pollution.
• Delhi has a shortfall of 429 MRSMs, possessing only 76 against the 505 recommended by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
• Just five of the 52 designated routes account for nearly 18% of the total running and sweeping distance.
• Road dust accounts for 56% of PM10 emissions and 38% of PM2.5 in Delhi's air pollution.
• In summer 2025, the fleet covered 1,629.1 km, while in December, it peaked at 2,591.57 km, nearly 60% higher.

Detailed Insights:

• The investigation tracked 52 geo-tagged MRSMs managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), revealing that the city's clean-up infrastructure barely scrubs the surface.
• The Centre determined the need for 505 machines based on road width and cleaning frequency, recommending cleaning on alternate days.
• Despite directives from the Prime Minister’s Office to expedite procurement, the MCD still faces a shortfall of over 100 mechanised sweepers.
• Coverage of major roads remained just above the halfway mark, with only 51.59% covered in summer and 60.5% in November.
• Spatial mapping showed high MRSM activity in dust pollution hotspots like Wazirpur Industrial Area, Model Town, and Okhla Industrial Area.
• MRSMs are most active in winter when political pressure is high, and least active in summer when dust pollution is at its worst.
• A TERI audit found that MRSMs are certified as PM10 efficient, capable of picking up greater than or equal to 80% of PM10 particles.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM10 and PM2.5: Fine particulate matter that can be inhaled and cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of measures to be implemented based on the air quality index in Delhi-NCR.
• Mechanical Road Sweeping Machine (MRSM): A vehicle equipped with brushes and a vacuum system to remove dust and debris from roads.