Odd-even: 3-tier air quality monitoring to be set up by Delhi govt

New Delhi: A three-tier air quality monitoring will be put in place by Delhi government during the second phase of the odd-even scheme with a special focus on the border areas of the national capital where particulate matters are recorded on the higher side.

The government said that apart from making use of the existing real time monitoring network of Delhi Pollution Control Committee, it will go for manual monitoring and the hand-held light scattering system across the city and its border areas from April 6 itself.

The decisions were taken at a review meeting chaired by Environment Minister Imran Hussain for measurement of various parameters of ambient air quality of Delhi during the upcoming fortnight long odd-even period from April 15.

"Environment Department and DPCC have planned to undertake monitoring of major parameters such as PM 2.5, PM 10 and NO2 during the period from April 6 to April 30 in Delhi and its surrounding areas.

"Manual Monitoring stations will collect data twice before the start of Odd Even Part-2 period as well as twice during the Odd Even Part-2 period. Such data will be collected and monitored at 10 different locations near road side, 20 different residential areas and 15 industrial areas, thus, totalling 45 locations," an official statement said.

The hand-held light scattering system, that was employed during the first phase of the oddd-even, will also be used to collect data at 55 locations in Delhi.

"In addition, it will also be put in place at 21 points - essentially three different points at each of the seven border areas i.E one inside Delhi border, second on the border and third one outside Delhi border," it said.