Vatsala Shrangi

Most of pollution-related complaints on Delhi app since Oct about illegal garbage dumping

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai inaugurated the app in October for people to report air pollution-related violations to fight peak winter pollution

From cleanest to worst, study shows how pollution in Delhi rose in a few months

The PM 2.5 levels this winter spiked by about 8-11 times from August (the cleanest month on record) to November across Delhi and its neighbouring towns, as per a fresh analysis of winter pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released on Thursday.

Local emissions, weather push air to ‘very poor’ zone

According to government agencies, it is likely to remain there throughout the week owing to the wind speed calming down and wind patterns changing in the coming days.

November was coldest in 71 years, shows IMD data

To find a lower October mean temperature, one will have to travel back in time to 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data.

Pollution in November 2020 up from last year, shows CPCB data

An analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality data shows that the monthly average air quality index (AQI) this November was 327.9, as compared to 312.2 in November 2019.

Only three effluent treatment plants along Yamuna meet standards: NGT-appointed panel

Expressing concern over the issue, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) panel has asked the Delhi government agencies to take short-term measures to improve the functioning of the plants. Also, it asked them to “explore strategies” to deal with effluents being discharged from non-conforming industrial areas.

17 teachers, volunteers in door-to-door survey test +ve , says association

The association said they have written to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that all those roped in for the survey were neither provided with adequate safety kits nor was enough precaution taken during the training sessions where people crowded together.

Delhi govt asks CPWD to explain violation of tree transplantation norms

A Delhi government spokesperson said the department held a meeting on the matter on Thursday. “A show-cause notice has been issued to the CPWD following reports of violation. Necessary action will be taken under the DPTA, in case violations are found,” the spokesperson said.

Delhi NCR in a chokehold of its own emissions

The 24-hour air quality index in Delhi was 413 according to the 4pm bulletin by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the concentration of fine PM10 particles and ultra-fine PM2.5 particles were close breaching the emergency thresholds.

Diwali pollution this year higher than 2019: DPCC

Delhi recorded an overall average AQI of 414 on Diwali day this year. Last year, it had recorded an average AQI of 337 on Diwali (October 27).

Air quality slips in Delhi, another round of bad air in coming week likely

According to weather scientists and experts, Delhi may be in for another spell of bad air in the coming week with local pollutants and unfavourable meteorological conditions largely behind the spike in pollution levels.

Delhi winter to be colder than usual this year

During La Nina, temperatures in central Pacific Ocean drops below normal levels, triggering wind patterns can influence weather in far away regions. This has been linked to colder than usual winters in northwest India.

Door-to-door survey: Volunteers complain of residents misbehaving, RWAs say they weren’t consulted

A volunteer, requesting anonymity, said residents of Greater Kailash-1 (GK-1) asked for proof that she was part of the survey -- she said she was not allowed to enter several households.

Finer, deadlier PM1 shoots up in Delhi due to crop burning, crackers

PM1 is so fine that it can reach the blood stream and organs. Scientists say these particles are highly toxic as they are formed by complex chemical reactions between pollutants in the air, and are at least 50-70 times finer than human hair.

Punjab farm fires up by nearly 90% over daily average of past 5 years: Study

Scientists at IIT-Delhi’s Centre of Excellence for Research on Clean Air (CERCA), who did the analysis, said the number of fire counts almost doubled this year in most districts of Punjab, which contributed majorly to the high PM 2.5 levels --- the most harmful aerosols in Delhi’s air in October-November..

Bengal tiger Bittu breathes his last at Delhi zoo; new tigress arrives from Kanpur

Zoo officials said Bittu was not keeping well for the past few months and died at 9.25am Thursday. Delhi zoo director Ramesh Pandey said Bittu was brought from Van Vihar Zoo, Bhopal, in 2014 and had completed his average life span of 15 years.

Delhi zoo’s 15-year-old tiger B-2 dies

The Delhi zoo had three Royal Bengal tigers till a year ago. One of the three, eight-year-old Rama, died at the zoo in September last year due to kidney failure

Air quality falls to poor as stubble fires rise again

According to the union government’s air quality forecasting wing, the share of stubble burning to the overall pollution levels increased to 8% from just 3% the previous day.

Delhi’s air quality turns very poor

This is the second time that air quality touched ‘very poor’ with an AQI reading of 360 in Delhi this season (post-monsoon). On October 15, the AQI had turned ‘very poor’ for the first time with a reading of 312

Delhi’s air quality remains poor for the fourth consecutive day

Air quality enters poor zone between 201-300 mark. The average AQI has been in the poor zone for the past three days. On Friday the 24-hour average AQI was 202

Experts sound caution over Delhi’s new tree policy

The survival rate of transplanted trees is very low while the process itself incurs a high cost and so the 80% target set under the policy is not achievable, the experts cautioned.

Fight against pollution: Graded Response Action Plan to kick in with Covid crisis in air

The Graded Response Action Plan (Grap), is a set of curbs triggered in phases as the air quality deteriorates, which is typical of the October-November period.

We are going to be more aggressive this year to fight pollution: Gopal Rai

As the air quality in the national capital turned ‘poor’ on Wednesday, for the first time since June this year, HT spoke to Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on the government’s action plan to control pollution, which coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, may pose a big public health crisis.

Air quality poor, may deteriorate further

Delhi’s air quality entered the ‘poor’ zone on the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index on Wednesday -- the first time since June 28, according to the data maintained as per CPCB’s daily AQI bulletin.

Delhi’s air quality hits ‘poor’ category, first time since June 2020

Till Tuesday, the air quality was in the higher end of the moderate category. Government agencies had warned of deterioration in air quality due to the change in weather conditions and fumes from farm fires in neighbouring states

Delhi govt to prepare bio-decomposer for crop stubble: All you need to know

The technology could prove to be a solution for farmers who otherwise end up burning paddy stubble causing fumes that add to air pollution during winter

Focus on on-ground implementation, Epca tells Delhi govt

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (Epca) on Monday said that the action plan launched by the Delhi government to combat winter pollution was welcome.

Delhi’s air quality may enter ‘poor’ zone on Sunday

Delhi AQI moves closer to ‘poor’ as stubble burning begins in Haryana, Punjab

At 6 am on Saturday, the air quality index (AQI), as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was 172 in the ‘moderate’ zone. On Friday, the overall average AQI was recorded as 180, close to the ‘poor’ mark (at 201)

‘List pollutants that flow into Shahdara drain’: Yamuna Monitoring Committee tells UP govt

Two outlets from neighbouring Ghaziabad in UP — the Sahibabad and Indirapuri drains, which meet the Shahdara drain — carry a huge quantity of chemicals that cannot be treated by conventional methods.