Rains, high speed wind can clear smog: CPCB

With the thick blanket of smog engulfing the national capital, the Central Pollution Control Board today said rains and high speed wind can clear the pollutants in the air and increase visibility.
The meteorological department has already predicted rains over the couple of days.
The reason behind the thick smog, the CPCB said, is due to the reduction in the mixing height for the dispersion of pollutants due to lowering of the temperature.
"The mixing height for dispersion of pollutants has reduced due to the drop in temperature. A good rain is the need of the hour as that will wash out the pollutants or high speed wind will also clear the sky," said senior environment engineer Gurnam Singh.

He said the mean value of mixing height was 540 metres on the day of Diwali on November 3. On Monday, it reduced to 490 m and yesterday it was 408 m.
"Which means the pollutants have come down to the lower layer of the atmosphere and are causing this smog. Moreover, prevailing calm conditions (no wind) is not letting the pollutants to pass over," Singh said.

The mixing height on Sunday was 197 m between 6 PM and 6 AM, 178 m on Monday and 164 m yesterday, he said.
The lowering of the temperature along with vehicular pollution has added up to the smog.

Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had recently held a meeting with Pollution Control Board chairman and state level senior officers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi to deliberate on action points to be taken during the winter to curb pollution.
EPPCA has entrusted the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to keep close vigil on grounds and ensure that all generators installed in industrial and commercial establishments comply with the applicable emission and noise norms, and depute officials where public can inform complaints.