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12 areas in Delhi where you can never breathe clean air -Jayashree Nandi

-The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Even when the winter sky appears blue, parts of Delhi now have smog-like air quality. If you live in an industrial or peripheral area like Jahangirpuri or Anand Vihar, you are breathing heavily polluted air every day.

Last year, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) added many new air quality monitors, so that now there is one every 7-8km. Data from this dense network shows not only a very high level of pollution but also a sharp increase in pollutants that were earlier within the limit.

For instance, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is usually present in a higher-than-acceptable concentration in many of the new locations being monitored. NO2 is a respiratory irritant that also contributes to ozone pollution, particulate formation, and smog.

Winter levels of NO2 have been above 100 micrograms per cubic metre at eight locations, as compared to the 24-hour standard of 80 micrograms per cubic metre. These locations are different from those with the highest levels of PM 2.5 (fine, respirable pollution particles). DPCC scientists said vehicles might be adding to NO2 pollution.

Without the new monitoring stations, Delhi would appear to have better air quality this year as some of the earlier stations — RK Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh — within the city's core are faring better, even if their levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 (coarse pollution particles) are at least thrice the safe standard.

However, at 12 locations the monitors showed PM 2.5 concentrations more than five times the 24-hour safe standard. These areas — Jahangirpuri, Wazirpur, Mundka, Bawana, Ashok Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Anand Vihar, Narela, Rohini and Dwarka — are either industrial or semi-industrial clusters, or lie on the city's periphery. PM10 levels were also found to be five times the 24-hour standard at nine of the 12 locations.

"We know that Jahangirpuri, Wazirpur, Vivek Vihar and Narela may be affected by emissions from industrial activity. Bawana and some other stations may be affected by open waste burning. But it's difficult to say right away," said Mohan P George, head of DPCC's air quality division.

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