Gurgaon: The two-day strike of diesel autos in Gurgaon, on August 29 and 30, brought down the city's air pollutionlevel by about 40%, according to Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) data.
The data shows the levels of PM 2.5, primarily caused by vehicular pollution, had come down to 18.57 micrograms per cubic metre and 17.52 micrograms per cubic metre on August 29 and 30, respectively, as compared to an average of 29 in the other days of August. On August 22, PM 2.5 was at its peak at 30.94.
The PM 2.5 levels were down despite the wind speed, which helps in dispersal of pollutants in the air, was lower on both the days — about 0.5 m/s (metre per second) — while it was 1.48 m/s on August 28.
However, the data is only from one air pollution measuring station in Gurgaon, which is located in Old Gurgaon and does not give the picture for the whole city.
It is also the reason why the HSPCB is unable to monitor PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels — both markers of ambient air quality — in the city in real time.
Experts say diesel autos are the main culprits in increasing the city's air pollution levels.
"Even though the city does not have any major polluting industries in the city, the levels of pollutants, especially PM 2.5, remain two to three times higher as compared to the World Health Organisation's prescribed limit, especially in winters. Diesel autos are definitely one of the major sources of air pollution," said NiranjanRaje, a member of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority.
"The impact of shared autos, which run on diesel, is also evident in air pollution data," said an official of HSPCB.
There are over 15,000 shared autos in Gurgaon. According to sources in the HSPCB, more than 60% of autos are not serviced regularly and thus are the potential sources of pollutants, especially PM 2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
"Whenever we conduct inspections, we find out that about 60% of shared diesel autos don't follow the norms to get the autos serviced. Many times, they use adulterated fuel, as it is available at low cost. But it leads to severe air pollution," said the HSPCB official.
Nearly there lakh people are dependent on shared autos for their last-mile commute in the city in the absence of an efficient public transport system.
