Page 17 - Air Pollution

PM10 levels in Mumbai unsafe not just in winter but in summer too: Study

The PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less) levels in the city have consistently breached the national safety threshold of 60 g/m not just during winter peaks, but even in the summer months, a four-year study has revealed. In 2024, Malad West recorded a sharp spike in PM10 levels, rising to 154.5 g/m , a nearly 50 per cent increase from the previous year. Shivaji Nagar, another critical hotspot, registered an alarming 211.0 g/m in 2023 before dropping to 102.2 g/m in 2024, still over 70 per cent above the national limit. Siddharth Nagar-Worli saw levels rise from 57.1 g/m in 2021 to 119.2 g/m in 2023 before slightly improving to 105.1 g/m in 2024, the study revealed. Other consistently polluted locations include Chakala-Andheri East, Kurla, Deonar, Vile Parle West, and Mazgaon, all of which remained above safe levels year after year. "PM10 levels in the city have consistently breached the national safety threshold of 60 g/m , not just during

Delhi govt to launch anti-pollution drive with tankers, border checks

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday said the government will roll out a comprehensive framework to tackle the rising pollution levels which will include deploying 1,000 water tankers with sprinklers, installing anti-smog guns in high-rise buildings and setting up CCTV cameras and LED screens at the city borders to prevent the entry of old vehicles. He said the roadmap will outline the city's strategy to fight pollution from 2025 to 2026. Sirsa said one of the key goals is to bring PM2.5 levels down. "We are installing water mist systems at various hotspots to clean the air and help particulate matter settle. This initiative has already shown success over a five-kilometre stretch in Dwarka," he said. The government is now expanding the project to 13 identified hotspots across the city. To intensify dust suppression, over 1,000 GPS-enabled water tankers with sprinklers will be deployed. "These tankers will move to areas with high pollution levels. Their route

Air pollution levels across India well above global standards: WHO official

Strategies like LPG subsidies and a switch to cleaner cooking fuels could help India become a leader in meeting this challenge, says Dr Maria Neira, director of environment and health at WHO

Emissions could be making rainfall more acidic over past 3 decades: Study

Air pollution could be making rainfall more acidic in cities such as Vishakhapatnam, Allahabad, Mohanbari (Assam), while dust from the Thar could be making rain more alkaline in Jodhpur, Pune and Srinagar, according to an analysis. The study by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, analysed the pH value -- which measures acidity or basicity -- of rainfall of ten cities in India. The data recorded at GAW stations from 1987 to 2021 were analysed. The findings are published by the IMD as a 'met monograph', a comprehensive analysis of a meteorological topic. The study suggests that atmospheric conditions and local emissions can affect the chemistry or pH of rainfall. Both acidic and alkaline rain can have toxic effects, affecting aquatic and plant life, even as the study's authors said "acid rain does not currently pose a major and immediate threat to our region". They attributed acidity in rain in Vizag to emissions

Anti-ageing millionaire Bryan Johnson raises alarm over India's pollution

Tech entrepreneur says breathing in India equates to smoking multiple cigarettes daily

Delhi air quality remains 'poor' for third day as heatwave intensifies

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 233 at 8 am on April 9, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), compared to 221 at the same time on Tuesday

Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'poor' category, AQI rises to 221

Air quality across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) deteriorated, falling into the 'poor' or 'moderate' category

Delhi AQI worsens to 'poor', IMD issues heatwave alert as mercury rises

Delhi's AQI hits 225, prompting Stage-I Grap curbs; IMD forecasts heatwave with yellow alert issued for April 8 and 9 amid rising temperatures

Delhi's air quality remains in 'moderate' category, AQI drops to 194

Air quality across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) improved, falling in the 'satisfactory' or 'moderate' category

Delhi's air quality improves to 'moderate' as strong wind clears pollutants

Delhi's AQI improves to 'moderate' but Grap curbs remain as parts of NCR still record 'poor' air; heatwave looms, artificial rain trial planned to tackle pollution

Delhi air quality remains 'poor' as city records hottest day of season

Air quality across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) deteriorated, falling in the 'poor' category with the AQI at 215

Necessary to tackle pollution: SC refuses to relax ban on firecrackers

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to relax the ban imposed on the manufacture, storage and sale on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR noting air pollution levels had remained alarming for a considerable time. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said a large section of the population worked on streets and was the worst affected by pollution. Not everybody can afford an air purifier at their residence or place of work to fight pollution, the bench said. "Several orders passed by this court during last six months bring on the record the horrible situation with which prevailed in Delhi due to very high levels of air pollution...Right to health is an essential part of Article 21 of the constitution so is the Right to live in a pollution free atmosphere," the court said. Unless the court was satisfied that the pollution due to the "so-called" green crackers was bare minimum, there was no question of reconsidering the previous orders, it added. The top court said the orders passe

Delhi air quality worsens to 'poor'; CAQM enforces Grap Stage I curbs

On April 2, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) in Delhi-NCR after the city's AQI entered the 'poor' category

Delhi govt tightens pollution control measures; announces EV push

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced in the assembly on Wednesday that the Delhi government will introduce a new policy for issuing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates to vehicles from other states, in a bid to tackle air pollution. The move comes in response to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report titled 'Vehicular Air Pollution in Delhi', which flagged lapses in the national capital's pollution control mechanisms. Gupta also announced a significant expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Delhi, stating that by 2026, the city will have 48,000 charging points18,000 government-operated and 30,000 semi-private. Additionally, six new air quality monitoring centres will be set up to improve pollution tracking and enforcement. The chief minister further revealed plans to establish a new eco-park dedicated to processing electronic waste, aiming to curb air pollution caused by improper disposal of e-waste. "These steps are crucial in strengthening

Delhi air quality remains in 'moderate' category, AQI plunges to 136

Air quality across Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) improved, remaining in the 'moderate' or 'satisfactory' category

Pollution biggest challenge, transport sector key contributor: Gadkari

Pollution is India's biggest challenge and the transport sector is a major contributor, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday, stressing the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. He said India's dependence on fossil fuels is both an economic burden as Rs 22 lakh crore is spent annually on fuel imports and an environmental hazard, making clean energy adoption crucial for the nation's progress. Speaking at the launch of an eco-friendly electric cycle in Thane, the Road Transport & Highways Minister said cycling needs to be promoted as a sustainable urban transport option in view of increasing urbanisation. Gadkari said the rapid growth of India's automobile sector has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest globally since 2014. He said by 2030, India will be the world leader in electric vehicle (EV) production, significantly impacting the global auto market. He credited the sharp decline in lithium-ion battery prices (now at USD 100 per

Delhi air remains 'moderate' for third day, AQI at 130 as temperature rises

Air quality across Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) improved, remaining in the 'moderate' category. Delhi's 24-hour average AQI stood at 138 at 4 pm on March 30.

India, others pledge to cut health impact of pollution by 2040 at WHO meet

India has pledged to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 2040, aligning its actions with the National Clean Air Programme at the concluding session of the second World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on air pollution and health here. Speaking at the conference organised in Colombian city of Cartagena, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Aakash Shrivastava said that the Indian government is committed to supporting the health sector and will promote cleaner cooking energy, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, is committed to supporting the health sector with actions in alignment with the National Clean Air Programme to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. We will strengthen air pollution and noncommunicable disease surveillance, promote cleaner cooking energy, particularly for vulnerable populations, and support clinicians in protecting at-risk patients, Shrivastava said. However, a report presente

Delhi's air quality improves to 'moderate' as wind clears pollutants

AQI drops to 157 after days of 'poor' air; IMD forecasts clear skies, winds

Delhi air remains 'poor' for fourth day, AQI at 231 as temperature rises

Gurugram in Haryana reported an AQI of 274, while Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh recorded AQIs of 176 and 182, respectively