The Hindu : New Delhi News : Pollution on the rise in Capital

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Friday, Feb 04, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Pollution on the rise in Capital

By Anjali Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. The Delhi Government's "clean air" campaign may be on the right track, but statistics reveal some worrying trends. According to a new Central Pollution Control Board report, not only is the harmful pollutant nitrogen dioxide registering an increase, pollution levels are also on the rise in most residential and industrial areas.

While the latest available report on Ambient Air Quality Trends (2001-2204) shows a downward trend in pollution levels at traffic intersections, it is the industrial and residential pockets monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that are becoming concern areas.

These residential areas include Ashok Vihar, Siri Fort, Nizamuddin and Janakpuri while the industrial areas include Shahdara and Shahzada Bagh.

Starting from nitrogen dioxide that registered a decrease in the traffic intersection at ITO in 2004 compared to 2003, residential areas have registered an increase of 5 per cent, while in industrial localities the increase is a whopping 17 per cent.

Similarly, Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) has increased by 5 per cent in residential areas since 2003 and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter has increased by 3 per cent. At the same time, sulphur dioxide has gone up by 11 per cent in industrial areas.

Though experts describe this increase, especially in the case of residential areas, as "marginal", environmentalists argue that the trend needs to be closely monitored.

"There is a lot of mixed land use in our city. Often commercial activities are centred in residential localities. Therefore, this categorisation into industrial areas and residential areas is not absolutely correct. Also, the density of vehicles has increased and so it would affect pollution levels in these areas. Unless the Government seriously implements a workable public transport system, the city will continue to be plagued by such problems," warns environmentalist Anumita Roy Chowdhury.

Another cause for concern is a steady increase in the levels of nitrogen dioxide, a deadly pollutant. Registering an upward trend since 2001, a decrease of 5 per cent has been noted at traffic intersections last year compared to 2003. However, correspondingly, an increase has been registered in industrial and residential areas. "Many put the blame on CNG, but that can only be one of the reasons. However, there are many sources of nitrogen dioxide. The annual 5 per cent increase in the number of vehicles on Delhi roads is another major reason," says the Additional Director of CPCB, S.D. Makhijani.

But there is some good news as well. All parameters have registered a downward trend at traffic intersections monitored by CBCP. Sulphur dioxide has fallen by 11 per cent, nitrogen dioxide by 5 per cent, SPM by 2 per cent, RSPM by 7 per cent and carbon monoxide by 9 per cent.

Explaining the downward trend at traffic intersections, Dr. Makhijani says: "In previous years there was a lot of construction activity at various locations -- many flyovers were being constructed and this caused several traffic jams. Now most of the construction activities are over and the flow of traffic is much smoother. Better traffic management could also explain this decrease. Overall the trend is moving in the right direction. There is improvement in Delhi's air quality."

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