Air quality 'improving' due to odd-even scheme: Delhi Government

New Delhi: The cut in vehicular emission due to rolling out of the odd-even scheme has resulted "definitive decline" in levels of PM2.5 pollutants, Delhi Government said on Tuesday while claiming success of the restrictions unveiled on January 1.

The Government said data of pollutants collected from over 55 locations showed a clear trend of improving air quality in several areas across the city and that there has been a "positive impact" of the odd-even scheme.

"According to the scientists of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), 80 per cent of PM2.5 air pollution is caused by vehicular traffic and reduction in its levels, even in outer areas of Delhi shows that reduction of four wheeled vehicles on roads since the New Year Day is having a positive impact," the government said in a statement.

However, a report by IIT Kanpur had said vehicular pollutions contribute to around 25 per cent of PM2.5 concentrations during winters which comes down to 9 per cent during summers.

It said the ambient air data collected by DPCC through mobile dust samplers using Light Scattering Technique at 20 locations in peripheral areas of Delhi on January 4 showed a clear declining trend in the levels of PM2.5.

The major source of PM2.5 pollutant is vehicular pollution.

"In 13 of these 20 locations, the PM2.5 level has been recorded at less than 300, which proves reduction in comparison to previous years at the same time by at least 100 units," it said.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai had asked for data collection from peripheral areas of Delhi to ascertain the impact of NCR towns on air pollution of Delhi.

Government said since January 1, the DPCC mobile teams have recorded ambient air data from 55 locations, and the trend is that air quality is improving in central parts and other areas which are not on the borders of the national capital.

"The PM10 data for the latest 20 locations from peripheral areas of Delhi shows an adverse impact of NCR towns. PM10, the major cause of which is dust arising from construction waste and wind blown dust, is on the higher side in bordering areas," it added.