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AAP govt takes stock of Delhi’s pollution post-Diwali

The Arvind Kejriwal-led  AAP government on Friday, while reviewing Delhi’s air quality  post-Diwali celebrations, said that even though the situation was…

AAP govt takes stock of Delhi’s pollution post-Diwali

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The Arvind Kejriwal-led  AAP government on Friday, while reviewing Delhi’s air quality  post-Diwali celebrations, said that even though the situation was better than last year’s Diwali, but the level of pollution showed an increase through Diwali evening Thursday that aggravated after 8 p.m. when the bursting of firecrackers started across the national capital.

According to a statement issued by the Delhi government, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, during the review meeting with department officials and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), was informed that even though the air quality this Diwali was better than last year’s Diwali, “but the cumulative effect of existing pollution load and pollutants released due to use of fireworks as well as meteorological conditions attribute to impact on ambient air quality during Diwali.”

The statement said that the assessment of ambient air quality as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) protocol undertaken at 16 locations across the city revealed that the level of air pollution was less in comparison to last year.

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The data shows that on this Diwali, the average concentration of PM10 ranged from 331 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air) to 951 µg/m3, while during 2016 Diwali the average concentration for PM10 ranged from 448 µg/m3 to 939 µg/m3.

Similarly, the average concentration for PM 2.5 ranged from 154 µg/m3 to 440 µg/m3 during this Diwali in comparison to last year’s Diwali when the average concentration for PM2.5 ranged from 180 µg/m3 to 440 µg/m3.

The noise pollution monitored at five locations was 61.4 dB (A) to 68.2 dB (A), while last year the range varied from 66.1 dB (A) to 75.8 dB (A).

The statement said as Delhi has been reeling under poor conditions of ambient air quality, “the provisions indicated in graded response action plan were already being enforced”.

“The Delhi government had taken steps to contain the air pollution levels in Delhi during the festival of Diwali through multi-pronged anti-fire crackers campaign. The DPCC also constituted teams consisting of officers of the committee to check the ban on sale of crackers as per the Supreme Court orders,” the statement added.

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