This echoes more support for the ongoing odd-even road rationing policy in Delhi. Usually during winter, light winds combined with dense fog, lead to worsening of air quality levels. Any reduction in vehicular emissions will have a positive impact on the city's air quality.
The study takes into account, the AQI in Delhi between the months of October and February, over a period of three years. The results have been more than revealing. A rising trend is observed in the percentage of winter days with poor or worse air quality. In 2012-13, 81% winter days recorded poor or worse AQI, while in 2013-14, the AQI of 78% winter days was found to be of poor quality. This figure inflated to 86% winter days with poor or worse air quality in 2014-15.
The statistics have been calculated using data from 10 different monitoring stations located across NCR. Air quality levels took a beating in Noida as well. Noida recorded 33% severe days this winter with an AQI of 250 or more. Interestingly, Noida had recorded just 7% severe days in 2013-14. Severely polluted days are generally calculated on the basis of existing weather conditions. Currently, weather in Delhi is causing problems for the odd-even scheme which aims at reducing vehicular emissions across the region.
Poor air quality days are directly associated with rising health problems. People suffering from heart diseases, asthma, allergies, or COPD are highly vulnerable on poor quality as well as severe quality days. But with no appropriate health advisory in place, most people usually don’t even come to know about the alarming AQI levels in their city. With the country’s first national air quality index launched in Delhi on Monday, efforts directed towards creating awareness about nose-diving air quality levels may receive a much needed push.
(Main Image Credits: vox.com)