From the governments to the Supreme Court, all are concerned about the increasing pollution in Delhi-NCR. Everyone is trying to figure out the reason and trying to deal with it. Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday said that there are broadly three factors of pollution in Delhi and NCR – meteorological factors, regional factors such as stubble burning and local factors. The CPCB stated that the weather conditions in Delhi are highly unfavorable for the spread of pollutants since September this year.
SC set up committee to stop burning stubble in UP, Haryana and Punjab
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Chairman Shiv Das Meena has seen a drop in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR in the last few years. Meena said that it is not that we take any action only during the winter season, but this process goes on throughout the year. We have also formed special teams to tour the area.
Delhi-NCR hope for relief in pollution this year
Meena said that Delhi-NCR is expected to get relief in pollution this year due to less area of non-basmati paddy in Punjab and Haryana. He said that farmers have problems in disposal of non-basmati paddy straw and they burn it in the field. In Punjab, paddy crop was on 22.91 lakh hectare last year, while this year its acreage has come down to 20.76 lakh hectare. Similarly, the area under non-basmati paddy in Haryana has been 4.27 lakh hectare this year as compared to 6.48 lakh hectare last year. This is expected to reduce the incidence of stubble burning.
It is worth mentioning that in the cold weather, the stubble burning in the surrounding states contributes between 4 to 40 percent in the pollution occurring in Delhi-NCR every year. Regarding the increase in the incidents of stubble burning so far in the months of September and October over the previous year, Mr. Meena said that this year it has happened due to early harvesting. It is expected that such incidents will reduce throughout the season.
At the same time, CPCB member secretary Prashant Gargwa said that the meteorological conditions are very unfavorable for the spread of pollutants in Delhi since September this time as compared to last year. He said that the concentration of PM10 between September 1 and October 14 this year is more than the same period of last year.
He said that the analysis shows that in 2019, there was 121 mm in seven days between September 1 and October 14. At the same time, during the same period this year, there were only three days of rain (21 mm). Gargwa said that compared to last year, the weather conditions have been extremely unfavorable in September and October this year.
CPCB hires 50 teams to check air pollution in Delhi-NCR
The official said that in September and October this year, the average ventilation index stood at 1,334 meters per second as compared to 1,850 meters per second in the same period last year.
The ventilation index is the speed at which pollutants can spread. A ventilation index less than 6,000 sqm / s, average wind speed less than 10 kmph, is unfavorable for the spread of pollutants.
Significantly, in view of the upcoming winter season, CPCB has deployed 50 teams for inspection in Delhi-NCR. The CPCB has also urged the state pollution control board to deploy teams in the areas.
CPCB said on Thursday that CPCB will deploy 50 teams for inspection in Delhi-NCR from October 15, 2020. We have asked the State Pollution Control Board to field its teams to comply with various instructions given by us.
CPCB teams will visit Delhi and nearby cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat and Sonipat.
(With input from news agency PTI and talks)
