Concentration of all regulatory pollutants in ambient air in Delhi have reduced due to various steps taken for prevention and control of pollution, including closing down and shifting of industries, Union Environment and Forests Minister TR Baalu said on Monday. Replying to questions in Lok Sabha, Baalu said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sponsored a study to carry out an epidemiological study on respiratory morbidity due to air pollution in Delhi.
The study, carried out by Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi, indicated higher incidence of respiratory ailments amongst the people living in polluted areas in comparison to less polluted areas, he said.
Baalu said that concentrations of all regulatory pollutants in ambient air in Delhi had recorded a decrease in 2001 against 2000.
The suspended particulate matter had reduced from 405 micrograms per cubic meter (MPCM) in 2000 to 347 MPCM in 2001, Respirable Suspended Particulate matter from 159 MPCM in 2000 to 137 MPCM in 2001, sulphur dioxide from 18 MPCM in 2000 to 14 MPCM in 2001 and nitrogen dioxide from 36 MPCM in 2000 to 34 MPCM in 2001, he said.
To a question on pollution at the country level, the minister said that State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees are monitoring ambient air quality in various cities and towns. Bureau Report