The Hindu : New Delhi News : A smoggy, choking winter ahead

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Saturday, Nov 18, 2006
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New Delhi

A smoggy, choking winter ahead

Staff Reporter

A study by CSE suggests dust, smoke and a drop in air temperature

NEW DELHI: Delhiites beware! A smoggy and choking winter is on the cards this year.

Going by the latest assessment of the Centre for Science and Environment here, the Capital is at risk of losing the air quality gains from its past actions because of rising numbers of vehicles on the roads and its love for diesel as the fuel of choice. Moreover, this would also pose a major health hazard as diesel fumes are harbingers of cancer and other serious ailments.

The CSE study suggests that with a drop in the temperature the air would get heavy with dust, smoke and suspended particles. The calm and cool weather will block dispersal of smoke and pollutants. A low-hanging shroud will impair visibility and choke lungs.

The latest assessment of peak pollution levels during the winter months since 1998 has revealed that pollution in winter -- despite a climb-down until 2003 -- has begun to rise once again this year. The two months of September and October this year have shown a rapid build-up of pollution. This winter is a reminder of the growing pollution crisis and the inability to put into action real solutions. A major reason for the pollution has been a staggering 105 per cent increase in the number of vehicles on the Capital's roads. Shockingly, diesel cars have increased by 425 per cent. "This overwhelming growth can be devastating in a city desperate for solutions to smoke, particles and nitrogen oxides," says CSE. Ironically, while 12,000 diesel buses were phased out, the 118,631 diesel cars on the city's roads are equivalent to 30,000 diesel buses when it comes to particulate emissions.

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