Plans to increase air quality monitoring stations in Delhi NCR: Centre tells Green Tribunal

According to the CPCB designing criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations, a population between one lakh and five lakh requires four stations, six stations for a population below 10 lakh, eight for a population below 50 lakh, and 16 stations for a population beyond 50 lakh.

There are seven manual stations and 40 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQM) in Delhi. This number is not likely to change as the Ministry has proposed setting up of stations in the NCR states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan will also not see an addition in its stations.

Twenty manual stations and a CAAQM station in Haryana, as well as 22 manual stations and 10 CAAQM stations in Uttar Pradesh, have been proposed, adding to the existing 28 manual stations and 22 CAAQM stations in Haryana and 20 manual stations, 18 CAAQM stations in Uttar Pradesh.

The CPCB has an air laboratory in a portable station or a mobile van which is designed for short-term episodal studies related to Ambient Air Quality.

The Environment Ministry stated that the mobile van has a “stability issue” and can function only at a restricted speed. “After every movement, all the analyzers mounted in the van require calibration before putting it to operation and ensure the data quality.”

The van has real-time analysers to measure PM 2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, Ozone, Ammonia and Benzene. The van also needs an external power supply for its operation and a secure place for its parking at the monitoring site.

The Ministry stated that the van can be placed for monitoring in Delhi-NCR region subject to meeting the conditions.