Local sources are behind surge in pollution in east and north Delhi

NEW DELHI: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday, March 3, released a winter analysis of air quality in Delhi and NCR as compared to the previous year. The report showed that East and North Delhi recorded the worst levels of (Particulate Matter) PM 2.5, whereas the air quality monitoring stations in West Delhi were clean as compared to the rest of the region.

Road dust, open garbage burning and vehicular emissions on internal roads were the primary causes which worsened the air quality in east and north Delhi, residents of the area said. Open burning and abandoned old vehicles have become the prime reasons of pollution in east Delhi. Residents in the area also complained that despite the strict provision of the authorities, waste including dried leaves and garbage is burned in the areas of Acharya Niketan, Laxmi Nagar, Pandav Nagar, Patparganj and Krishna Nagar.

CSE said in its analysis that wide variations among the monitoring station locations indicated high impact of local pollution and micro-climate. Jai Prakash, Mayor, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, said that all the efforts of the municipal agencies are completely focused on curbing the local pollution sources.