With the Chandigarh Administration restricting diesel autorickshaws from Panchkula and Mohali from entering the city, the latter has witnessed a dip in level of air pollution, according to data gathered by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC).
The administration had launched a drive against diesel autos on January 7. CPCC gathers data from three locations. The level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) has been recorded on the lower side at two locations. The permissible limit of RSPM is 100 microgram per cubic metre (mcg/cu m).
As per the data, RSPM level at Institute of Microbial Technology witnessed a jump from 116 mcg/cu m recorded on January 7 to 145 mcg/cu m on January 9. In Industrial Area, the level of RSPM was recorded at 270 mcg/cu on January 8 and 147 mcg/cu on January 11.
Similarly, RSPM was recorded at 153 mcg/cu on January 8 and 102 mcg/cu on January 11.
Diesel autorickshaws contribute extensively to air pollution in city. Chandigarh has nearly 500 registered diesel autorickshaws and nearly 5,000 unregistered ones. The administration is providing financial assistance to autorickshaw owners for purchasing LPG autos.
