Delhi's smoggy winter: 64% fine-particulate pollution comes from outside

Delhi contributes no more than 36 per cent to its fine-particulate (PM 2.5) pollution during winters, with 64 per cent coming from sources outside the 56,800-sq-km area of the national capital region (NCR), according to a new study.

During the winter of 2016-17, the average concentration of PM 2.5 in Delhi-NCR was 168 microgram per cubic metre (μg/m3)–about three times higher than the national standard of 40 μg/m3 and about 16 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) tighter standard of 10 μg/m3 , said the study, released on August 16, 2018.

The average maximum concentration of PM 2.5 during winters was 254 μg/m3, while the minimum average concentration was 92 μg/m3, said the study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Emitted when coal, kerosene, petrol, diesel, biomass (like wood and cow-dung) is burnt, PM 2.5 is about 30 times finer than a human hair. These particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Their measurement is considered to be the best indicator of the level of health risks from air pollution, according to the WHO.

8 of every 10 cities breathe toxic air, 53% of Indians at risk: Greenpeace

People living in eight of every 10 Indian cities breathe toxic dust particles, PM 10, at levels exceeding national safety limits, according to a recent report.

National capital Delhi has the worst air in the country, said the report, Airpocalypse, released by Greenpeace India, an advocacy. At a time when India is already slipping to meet the renewable targets the budget 2018 overall allocations to the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has declined by 326 crore or 6% from last year’s Rs 5473 crore.

Of India’s 280 cities/towns where air quality is monitored, none met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe levels of PM 10–20 μg/m³–the report said.

The Indian annual safe level for PM 10–airborne particles seven times finer than a human hair that can sicken or kill people by entering their lungs–is three times more lenient at 60 μg/m³.

HC gives go ahead for Delhi marathon on Nov 19 despite poor air quality

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to postpone the Delhi Half Marathon in the national capital on November 19 after its organisers said participants could opt out with a full refund of their money if they did not want to run in view of air pollution.

Procam International, promoter of the event, told a bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sanjeev Sachdeva that measures have been put in place to ensure that the participants were provided with a "conducive environment" to run.

Starting from 12 am on November 19, the entire course would be washed with treated water mixed with salt and thereafter there would be intermittent spraying of water on the route from 2 am to 10 am, it said.

The event has various categories with different timings.

The event promoter said potential dust hot spots would be twice doused with water prior to the start of the marathon.

Apart from that, around 150 mist fans would be deployed at varying heights at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the holding area for the participants, and from 2 am to 11 am the roads designated for the event would be blocked, it said.
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Delhi air pollution: Arvind Kejriwal to meet Manohar Lal Khattar today

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he would meet his Haryana counterpart in Chandigarh on Wednesday to discuss rising air pollution levels in the national capital as the latter was too "busy" to meet him in Delhi.

Kejriwal said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had called him and told him that the latter was in Delhi till tomorrow, but cannot meet him in Delhi, citing "he (Khattar) was very busy".

The Haryana CM has asked me to see him in Chandigarh on Wednesday, the AAP supremo said.

The Delhi chief minister has been seeking a meeting with his counterparts from Haryana and Punjab over the last few days to find a solution to stubble burning in the neighbouring states, a major source to high pollution levels in Delhi.

"Khattar ji called. He is in Del till tomo. Says he is v busy n can't meet me in Del. He has asked me to come to Chandigarh on Wed. I look forward to meeting him in Chandigarh on Wed (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

Earlier in the day, he said his office was constantly trying to fix a meeting with the Haryana chief minister.

The development comes after Khattar wrote back to Kejriwal and said he was "likely" to be in Delhi on November 13 and 14.
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