Delhi Environment Minister releases SHOCKING Diwali-day air pollution data in comparison to last year, Check full report

After the alarming levels of pollution in Delhi-NCR, on October 23 the Supreme Court had imposed restrictions on the use and sale of firecrackers in an attempt to control rising levels of air pollution across India. But, the data by the Environment Minister, Imran Hussain showed that the level of pollutants showed an increase on the Diwali Day and the data showed that the major changes observed after 8:00 PM when the fireworks started.

The data also observed that the cumulative effect of existing pollution load and pollutants release due to the use of fireworks as well as meteorological conditions like calm condition with significant humidity attributed tothe present situation. (Photo by DOMINIQUE FAGET / AFP)

NEW DELHI: A day after Diwali as AQI reached near 1000 mark, Delhi’s Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Thursday reviewed the ambient air quality of Delhi with special reference to Diwali. This year, the government had carried mass awareness campaign through print media, FM Channels to the students & citizens for saying ‘No’ to crackers. In its report, the government ‘appreciated’ efforts made by the Environment Department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and children to restrain themselves from the bursting of Firecrackers. After the alarming levels of pollution in Delhi-NCR, earlier on October 23, the Supreme Court had imposed restrictions on the use and sale of firecrackers in an attempt to control rising levels of air pollution across India, specifically in Delhi and the National Capital Region. For the data released, assessment of  Ambient Air Quality as per CPCB Protocol was undertaken  at 26 locations i.e. R. K. Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil Lines, IGI Airport, Anand Vihar, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, Dr. Karni Singh shooting range, PGDAV College(Sriniwaspuri), DITE Okhla, Mother Dairy (Patparganj), ITI Vivek Vihar, ITI Jahangirpuri, DITE Wazirpur, Satyawati college (Ashok Vihar), Shaheed Sukhdev Business college (Rohini), Narela, Sonia Vihar, Shri Aurobindo Marg, Najafgarh, Pusa, Dwarka, Mundka, Bawana, and Alipur. Noise levels also monitored at five stations R.K.Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil Lines and Anand Vihar. Comparable data for 11 stations is available viz a viz 2017 for particulate matter since the Supreme Court had completely banned firecrackers in Delhi-NCR last year.

Here is the data released by Delhi’s Environment Minister on Delhi's air pollution- 

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• On Diwali day 2018, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for CO ranged from 0.8 mg/m3 to 4.0 mg/m3. The minimum value was observed at 2:00 P.M. and maximum value was observed at 11:00 P.M. Location wise minimum concentration was observed at Najafgarh (0.6 mg/m³) and maximum concentration was observed at Anand Vihar (4.4 mg/m³).
• On Diwali day 2017, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for CO ranged from 3.0 mg/m3 to 3.7 mg/m3. The minimum average value was observed at Punjabi Bagh and maximum average value was observed at R.K.Puram.

Oxides of Nitrogen (NO2)

• On Diwali day 2018, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for NO2 ranged from 29 µg/m3 to 83 µg/m3. The minimum value was observed at 1:00 P.M. and maximum value was observed at 11:00 P.M. The location wise minimum concentration was observed at Okhla (7.6 µg/m3) and maximum concentration was observed at Punjabi Bagh (142 µg/m3).
• On Diwali Day-2017, the average concentration of NO2 (for 24 hrs) varied from 43 µg/m3 to 173.0 µg/m3. The minimum avg. value was observed at Mandir Marg and maximum avg. value was observed at Punjabi Bagh.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

• On Diwali day 2018, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for SO2 ranged from 15 µg/m3 to 81 µg/m3. The minimum value was observed at 7:00 A.M. and maximum value was observed at 11:00 P.M. The location wise minimum concentration was observed at Narela (3.1 µg/m3) and maximum concentration was observed at Karni Singh (50.8 µg/m3).
• On Diwali Day – 2017, the average concentration of SO2 (for 24 hrs) varied from 20 µg/m3 to 89 µg/m3. The minimum avg. value was observed at Mandir Marg maximum avg. value was observed at Punjabi Bagh.

Particulate Matter –PM10

• On Diwali day 2018, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) ranged from 167 µg/m3 to 1859 µg/m3. The minimum value was observed at 3:00 P.M. and maximum value was observed at 01:00 A.M. The location wise minimum concentration was observed at Najafgarh (241 µg/m3) and maximum concentration was observed at Ashok Vihar (1494 µg/m3).
• On Diwali Day- 2017, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM10 ranged from 331 µg/m3 to 951 µg/m3. The minimum avg. value was observed at Civil Lines and maximum avg. value was observed at Anand Vihar.

Particulate Matter –PM2.5

• On Diwali day 2018 the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM 2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) ranged from 69 µg/m3 to 1560 µg/m3. The minimum value was observed at 3:00 P.M. and maximum value was observed at 01:00 A.M. The location wise minimum concentration was observed at Najafgarh (143 µg/m3) and maximum concentration was observed at Ashok Vihar (1252 µg/m3).
• On Diwali Day-2017, the average concentration (for 24 hrs) for PM2.5 ranged from 154 µg/m3 to 440 µg/m3. The minimum avg. value was observed at Civil Lines and maximum avg. value was observed at R.K.Puram.

The analysis of data shows three types of location w.r.t. PM10 :

1. Jahangirpuri, Ashok Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Wazirpur, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and R.K.Puram where value ranged between exceeded 1000 µg/m3 .
2. Sonia Vihar, Patparganj, Vivek Vihar, Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Dwarka, Mundka, Rohini, Okhla, Bawana and IGI Airport where value generally is less than 1000 µg/m3.
3. Najafgarh, Alipur, Narela, Dr Karni Singh shooting range, Shri Aurobindo Marg, Pusa, Civil Lines and Mandir Marg are stations where values are found less than 500 µg/m3.

As for noise pollution, the real-time Noise Monitoring was undertaken at five locations in 2018 and the range observed is from 64.4 dB (A) to 74.0 dB (A), while last year i.e 2017 the range varied from 61.4 dB (A) to 68.2 dB (A). The level of pollutants showed an increase in the Diwali Day and the data showed that the major changes observed after 8:00 PM when the fireworks started. The data also observed that the cumulative effect of existing pollution load and pollutants release due to the use of fireworks as well as meteorological conditions like calm condition with significant humidity attributed to the present situation.