Photos: Delhi experiences cleanest air in eight years

Delhiites have been breathing easy this year, with the national capital at present witnessing its cleanest air in the last eight years. In a city, which has been tagged as the most polluted in the world, the average air pollution level in the first seven months of the year have been the lowest, compared to the corresponding period of previous years since 2012, data provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed. Even though pollution levels have dropped compared to previous years, the average air quality throughout the year is still not good because pollution is still two to three times above the prescribed limits.

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Delhiites have been breathing easy this year, with the national capital at present witnessing its cleanest air in the last eight years. In a city, which has been tagged as the most polluted in the world, the average air pollution level in the first seven months of the year have been the lowest, compared to the corresponding period of previous years since 2012. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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Even as experts attributed the drop in pollution levels to a series of anti-pollution measures initiated both by the Centre and the Delhi government, they cautioned that the levels of particulate matter (PM) in the city’s air was still around two to three times higher than the prescribed limits and pollution checking measures should be enforced stringently. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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While the average concentration of PM2.5, during the first seven months (January to July), has steadily dropped from 133ug/m3 in 2012 to 101ug/m3 in 2019, the level of PM10 has also come down from 326ug/m3 in 2012 to 237ug/m3 in 2019. The daily and yearly prescribed limits of PM10 are 100ug/m3 and 60mg/m3 respectively. The daily and yearly prescribed limits of PM2.5 are 100ug/m3 and 60mg/m3. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PM2.5 levels in Delhi dropped by 7.3% in 2018 when compared to 2017 and by 14.8% over 2016. Similarly reduction in PM10 levels in 2018 is 8.6% over 2017 and 16.5% over 2016. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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“In August, Delhi has experienced ‘satisfactory’ air quality in the last ten days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been staying between 55 and 70 over the past few days mainly because of meteorological conditions – rain and winds. The best air quality of this year so far was experienced on August 12, when the AQI dropped to 57,” said a CPCB official. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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“Pollution levels in Delhi--NCR depend primarily on ground--level human activities and meteorology. If we can check and control our ground level activities, much of the pollution can be brought down. Some measures have already been initiated and the results have started showing,” said D Saha, former head of the CPCB’s air quality laboratory. (Mohd Zakir / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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According to environment department officials in Delhi, the drop in pollution levels is the cumulative effect of a series of measures that have been undertaken over the past two years at least – introducing upgraded fuels such as BS-VI, CNG and PNG (for industries), shutting down of Badarpur power plant, implementing measures under GRAP, launching of eastern and western peripheral expressways, addressing pollution related complaints lodged by citizens on social media and banning fuels like coal and kerosene. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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Even though pollution levels have dropped compared to previous years, the average air quality throughout the year is still not good because pollution is still two to three times above the prescribed limits. An earlier study by scientists from IIT Delhi had revealed that over the past two decades almost, the average level of PM2.5 – pollutants that can penetrate deep inside the lungs – in Delhi has remained more than two times above the annual permissible limits. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST

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According to CPCB data the number of ‘good’ to ‘moderate’ days had increased to 159 in 2018, as compared to 152 in 2017, and the number of ‘poor’ to ‘severe’ days had reduced to 206, compared to 213 in 2017. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2019 12:28 PM IST