NEW DELHI: Daily bulletins will keep you informed about the odd-even formula's impact on air quality from January 1 to 15. The environment department will monitor air quality at 200 locations from 8am to 8pm using data from six mobile units, 20 stationary air quality samplers and the monitoring stations run by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Delhi government has already started trial runs of the new equipment at some locations. It was used during last Tuesday's car-free day on Vikas Marg. The mobile devices will measure pollutant levels along fixed traffic loops.
The environment department has bought a few of these devices and borrowed the rest from other institutions. The devices have basic features and cost only Rs 10,000-50,000. "We have developed a protocol that can give us a fair idea. But each day's reports will be available the next day or very late in the evening to media organisations," said environment secretary Ashwani Kumar, adding that they will try to post the information on their website for the public. About the mobile units, he said they would help the government understand the impact on air quality in congested areas.
Although the 15-day drive is expected to be a big disruptor of people's routines and habits, officials say air pollution is likely to reduce by only 10-15%, based on the findings of the source apportionment (how much different activities contribute to pollution) study done by IIT Kanpur recently and their own experience of car-free days.
"Usually, on a car-free day, there is 20-30% reduction in air pollution, particularly in PM2.5 levels (fine, respirable pollution particles). Since the odd-even rule does not apply to two-wheelers, the benefits may halve to about 10-15%. A lot also depends on the weather conditions," said an official.
The car-free day on Vikas Marg had no impact on PM10 and marginally reduced PM2.5. "That may have been because of traffic congestion in nearby locations or biomass burning in areas near Delhi," said the official.
Experts say, people need to use public transport and reduce personal vehicle usage for a noticeable impact.
AnumitaRoychowdhury, head of Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Clean Air campaign said it will be crucial to see if peak pollution levels come down. "What effect odd-even will have in the city is dependent on how stringently the plan is enforced along with control of dust, waste burning, shutting of the Badarpur power plant and others. If it's all done in coordination, we will definitely see results."
