Latest news with #AmbientAirQualityMonitoring
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Rajasthan govt to add 4 air quality monitoring stations in NCR region
In order to combat air pollution problems in Rajasthan's NCR and adjoining areas, the state government has decided to install four additional Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in the sub-region. At a review meeting held on Friday focused at abatement of air pollution, a detailed issue-wise presentation was made on the status of compliance on the CAQM directions focusing on the control of road dust, vehicular pollution, open burning of wastes and management of the municipal solid waste as per MSW rules. The meeting was chaired by Rajesh Verma, Chairperson, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Sudhansh Pant, Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan co-chaired the meeting which was attended by senior officers from the Department of Environment & Climate Change, Forest, Food and Civil Supply, UDH, Housing Board, Transport, RREC, RSRTC, Homes, Industries, LSG, Agriculture, RIICO Ltd and RSPCB. During the presentation, it was observed that various departments of the state are putting the right kind of efforts in complying with the directions issued by the Commission periodically. It was observed that various compliances are being done in relation to the Formulation of Action Plan for redevelopment of identified roads at Bhiwadi and Neemrana as per the framework , measures on implementing restrictions in respect of End of Life vehicles, adoption of cleaner mobility vehicle services, migration of all buses entering into Delhi to clearer modes, ban on transport and commercial good vehicles other than CNG/EV/LNG/BS-VI, phasing out diesel auto rickshaw in NCR within the specified time frame and requisite measures to prevent stubble burning. Further it was noted that ULBS of Alwar, Bharatpur and Bhiwadi which are housed in NCR are taking measures for the prevention and control of fires in SLF sites, dump sites, open MSW and biomass burning which cause immense air pollution in the region. The Commission appreciated the Greening and Plantation Drive of the State Government wherein 8.49 cr plantations were done till date under the 'Hariyalo Rajasthan Abhiyaan' in the current year which includes 81 Lakh Plantations in the NCR Region. During the meeting, Chief Secretary, Rajasthan in his address further emphasised on the seriousness of the matter and directed all the stakeholder departments to ensure time bound compliance of directions issued by the CAQM. He expressed his concern on the health hazards arising out of air pollution and also directed the State machinery to be prepared on the monitoring mechanism and restrictions that come into force during the GRAP Period.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Air quality in Mumbai's Deonar and Sion worse than coastal cities of Chennai and Kolkata in Jan-June 2025, finds national study on air pollution
Mumbai: In the first six months of 2025, Mumbai, as a whole, reported average toxic PM2.5 levels in the air below the national standard, but several of its areas, including Deonar, Sion, Kandivli East, and Bandra-Kurla Complex, saw higher pollution compared to other coastal cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Vijayawada, and Puducherry. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This highlights the need for strict enforcement of hotspot-based measures to effectively reduce PM2.5 concentrations, stated a latest national report on air pollution, which draws on data from Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in 239 cities. The PM2.5 particles in air are considered carcinogenic and can be absorbed in blood upon breathing. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has released its half-yearly analysis of air quality across India for January to June 2025, revealing a persistent and widespread challenge in meeting both national and international air quality standards. Deonar stands out as one of the most polluted monitoring sites among all the listed coastal locations, with other Mumbai areas, such as Sion, Kandivli East, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Borivli East, Worli, Mazgaon, Shivaji Nagar, Sewri, and Kurla, also registering PM2.5 levels above or equal to NAAQS (national ambient air quality standards) which is 40 μg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre). "These figures place Mumbai's air quality in a more concerning bracket, especially when compared to many sites in Chennai and Puducherry, where the PM2.5 concentrations are generally lower," the study stated. According to the report, the compliance assessment shows that PM2.5 data was available for over 80% of days in 239 cities with CAAQMS. Among these, 122 cities exceeded India's annual National Ambient NAAQS of 40 μg/m3, while 117 cities remained below this threshold. However, all 239 cities surpassed the much stricter World Health Organization's (WHO) annual standard of 5 μg/m3. This widespread exceedance indicates that air pollution continues to pose a significant public health risk even in cities that are technically 'compliant' with Indian standards, the report stated further. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "While Kolkata also has several locations with high PM2.5 concentrations, Mumbai's pollution levels are notable for their consistency across multiple sites. In contrast, Chennai's monitoring stations, particularly those in residential and peripheral areas, often report much cleaner air. Puducherry and Vijayawada show even lower PM2.5 averages, indicating better air quality. This comparison highlights that Mumbai, despite its coastal location, faces significant air pollution challenges, making it one of the more polluted coastal cities in India during the first half of the year," said CREA's analyst and researcher Manoj Kumar. "Addressing the air quality crisis in any Indian city requires a multi-sectoral approach. Fragmented or seasonal measures are not enough. Urgent steps are needed to update national standards, expand NCAP coverage to gaseous pollutants, and enforce mitigation measures for all polluting sources to safeguard public health throughout the year," added Kumar
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
‘Crucial step for holistic data on pollution': Delhi set to add 6 new air quality monitoring stations
Delhi is set to expand its air quality monitoring infrastructure with the installation of six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), targeting areas not typically associated with high pollution. The expansion, led by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), is part of the ongoing efforts to develop a more granular understanding of pollution patterns across different urban environments, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told The Indian Express. He added that the government is aiming to have these stations operational by August, before winter sets in, when the city is hit by severe air pollution. 'It is a crucial step for holistic data on pollution in all areas,' he said. He emphasised the need to shift focus from only known pollution corridors to areas that are often assumed to be clean. 'It is a myth that so-called green areas are not polluted. Vehicular pollution is a cause of concern throughout the city. So, it is necessary that we get pollution data for such areas too, not just the usual hotspots,' he said. The new stations will be installed at the campuses of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in South Delhi, the ISRO Earth Station near Malcha Mahal in Delhi's Ridge and Delhi Cantonment in New Delhi, the Commonwealth Sports Complex in Central Delhi, and the West Campus of Netaji Subhash University of Technology in Southwest Delhi. At present, Delhi has 40 CAAQMS and 7 manual stations. Of these, 26 have been set up by the DPCC, while others by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The new stations would improve geographic coverage and bring under observation several areas that are not traditionally seen as pollution hotspots, said Sirsa. The decision to move forward with these installations was taken in continuation of work initiated by the previous state government. Sirsa said the locations had already been identified earlier, and the current government is facilitating implementation by issuing formal work orders and commissioning the project. The choice of sites follows national-level guidelines issued by the CPCB, which recommend how air monitoring stations should be located, as per officials. According to these standards, the monitoring equipment should be placed in open areas with free airflow and away from trees, buildings, and direct pollution sources like chimneys or heavy traffic corridors. The sampler should typically be placed at 3 metres above ground level, and at least 25 metres away from direct sources like chimneys or roads. Equipment must also be positioned away by at least 20 metres away from tree cover or obstructive structures, to avoid skewing data. The Indian Express had reported last October regarding the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) plans to increase the number of air quality stations in Delhi-NCR, based on CPCB's population-based design criteria. Under the framework, cities with 1–5 lakh of population require 4 stations, up to 10 lakh, 6 stations; up to 50 lakh, 8 stations, and beyond 50 lakh, at least 16 stations. According to official documents, each station will be equipped with advanced instruments capable of monitoring key air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds like benzene and toluene. In addition, sensors will record weather data such as wind speed, temperature, and humidity. The data will be transmitted in real time to the central servers of Delhi's pollution control authority and the Central Pollution Control Board. A digital display board at each site will show the current air quality index and pollutant levels to the public. The stations are designed to operate round-the-clock, with requirements in place to ensure that they are functional for at least 90% of the year. The third-party agency responsible for installation will also maintain the stations for the next ten years, ensuring regular calibration, data quality checks, and public accessibility. Monitoring staff and security personnel will be stationed at each location to oversee day-to-day operations and ensure uninterrupted data flow.
