NEW DELHI: The national capital occupied the first rank as most polluted in the country among 254 cities in Jan this year, according to an analysis done by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The average PM2.5 concentration was 206 micrograms per cubic metre and surpassed the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) each day of the month.Bhagalpur was close behind Delhi.
The daily NAAQS for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre, while WHO’s daily safe limit for PM2.5 is 15 micrograms per cubic metre. The other cities in the top 10 most polluted list for Jan were Saharsa, Byrnihat, Greater Noida, Hanumangarh, Noida, Baddi, Sri Ganganagar and Faridabad. TOI had earlier reported that this Jan was the most polluted since 2016 with an average air quality index of 354. The highest average AQI in Jan was recorded in 2016 at 370.
Sunil Dahiya, an analyst with CREA, said: “The lower temperature and no rainy day in Delhi during Jan aggravated the anthropogenic air pollution crisis, which is largely a result of a mismatch of policies and actions on reducing emissions and geographies in the city and larger airshed around it.”
He added: “Delhi or any other city in the country is yet to see a comprehensive approach to put emission caps and reduction targets. In the absence of an airshed level emission load reduction approach for air pollution governance and regulation, the fight will be inefficient.”
The daily NAAQS for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre, while WHO’s daily safe limit for PM2.5 is 15 micrograms per cubic metre. The other cities in the top 10 most polluted list for Jan were Saharsa, Byrnihat, Greater Noida, Hanumangarh, Noida, Baddi, Sri Ganganagar and Faridabad. TOI had earlier reported that this Jan was the most polluted since 2016 with an average air quality index of 354. The highest average AQI in Jan was recorded in 2016 at 370.
Sunil Dahiya, an analyst with CREA, said: “The lower temperature and no rainy day in Delhi during Jan aggravated the anthropogenic air pollution crisis, which is largely a result of a mismatch of policies and actions on reducing emissions and geographies in the city and larger airshed around it.”
He added: “Delhi or any other city in the country is yet to see a comprehensive approach to put emission caps and reduction targets. In the absence of an airshed level emission load reduction approach for air pollution governance and regulation, the fight will be inefficient.”