Heavy rain, low traffic give Gurgaon a breather, 9 good air days in a month

Gurgaon: Heavy rain, high humidity levels and low vehicular traffic have ensured that the city breathed cleaner air in the past one month. Between August 5 and September 5, the city has had nine good air days, when the air quality index (AQI) was below 50. On other days, too, the air quality hovered around the moderate level — clocking between 50 and 100. On Sunday, the AQI was 56.
But officials, however, warned that pollution levels could rise again in the coming days with vehicles returning to the streets as usual. With the harvesting season also nearing, it has raised concerns about stubble burning, a major contributor to Delhi-NCR’s deteriorating air quality during the winters.
Good air days during this time of the year are not a departure from the usual. Last year, too, the city had nine good air days in September. In 2018, there were three days in September when the AQI was below 50. Those were the only good air days that year. This year, the city’s three cleanest days were on August 20, 21 and September 1, when the air quality level was 44, 40 and 46, respectively.
This year’s data was compiled from three air quality monitors installed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) at Vikas Sadan, Teri and Sector 51. Among the three stations, Teri had the lowest AQI on most days, which is because of the greenery around it. In contrast, the Sector 51 station in the heart of the city saw the highest AQI on most days.
On an average, air quality levels have been better in the first week of September in comparison with August. Officials said much of it had to do with the above-average rain the city received. “Yes, the air quality has been satisfactory because of the rain. High levels of humidity have also played a role,” an HSPCB official said.
Asked about the trend, MD Sinha, who heads the urban environment wing of GMDA, said, “The AQI has been below 100 almost every day for the past month. According to our observation, the air was the cleanest on August 31.” GMDA uses its own air quality monitors to record and analyse pollution data. So, there is a little difference between the data of the development body and that of the pollution board.
Apart from climatic factors, low vehicular traffic during the lockdown also aided cleaner air levels in the city. Industries had been closed and construction activity stalled during this period, which otherwise push up pollution levels considerably.
Singh alerted that air quality might deteriorate again with the resumption of construction activities. With Metro services hitting the track from this week, diesel auto-rickshaws are likely to be back on the streets and pollute the air. Farmers are also expected to resort to stubble burning at the end of the harvesting season.
A Central Pollution Control Board study had revealed that diesel generators contribute to 6% of PM 2.5 emissions and 10% of PM10 across Delhi-NCR.
Although diesel gensets had been functioning in the city even during the lockdown, diesel autos are a cause for concern. Once Metro services resume, autos will start ferrying commuters to stations.