Parking may cost you 4 times more

Breaking News - As Delhi's air quality has deteriorated into the worst "red zone", Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has taken up mitigation plans, like banning diesel generators and shutting down Badarpur thermal plant.

Now, the EPCA under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) may increase parking fees for vehicles up to four times soon as vehicular emissions are the third-biggest pollutants after construction dust and stubble burning. Also, EPCA chief Bhure Lal and CSE director Sunita Narain on Tuesday planned a series of measures to be taken based on the severity of air pollution during the winter.

Air monitoring agencies have raised a red flag and asked for tough measures to control the ever-deteriorating air quality in and around national Capital. Narain said parking fees may have to be hiked in Delhi, despite the fact that a parking policy is still being worked out, if air pollution aggravates further to alarming proportions, "cars will have to be off the roads".

While the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) has marked the air quality "red", the administration finally woke up and measures under the "very poor" and "severe" categories of the plan came into force on Tuesday, under which the Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed and diesel generators have been banned in Delhi.

The ban on diesel generators may severely impact the business of farm houses, marriage banquets and grounds when the wedding season is about to begin.

Earlier this month, in an effort to check alarming pollution level, the Supreme Court put a temporary ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali.

Notably, a study by IIT Kanpur that was commissioned by the Delhi Government has revealed that apart from construction dust and stubble burning, vehicular emission is important factor in rising pollutant values.

On Tuesday evening, the air quality index noted pollutions at severe levels as vehicular emissions aggravated the air quality.

Taking into account the 24-hour average of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) recorded by SAFAR, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 was recorded 139 micro gram per cubic metre. SAFAR forecast has raised the alarm for Wednesday and Thursday. Similarly, the mass concentration of Particulate Matter (10) was recorded much higher than its prescribed limit.

The map of national Capital on SAFAR meter was coloured red, which means that the toxicity levels in city air are higher in concentration.

Further, air meters of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) too recorded values of pollutants very high at different places in Delhi.

At ITO, the busiest traffic junction, PM 2.5 was recorded at 207 micro gram per cubic metre. In Anand Vihar area, values of both pollutants were recorded tremendously high. PM 10 was recorded at 455 µgm-3 and PM 2.5 was recorded at 129 µgm-3.

In Mandir Marg area, levels of both the pollutants were recorded at 187 µgm-3 and 72 µgm-3 respectivly; and in RK Puram area, the value of PM 10 was measured at 268 µgm-3.

It is important to mention here that with the higher numbers of vehicles plying on Delhi roads, values of nitrogen oxides recorded high on Air Quality Index (AQI) meters. This trend was also observed on Tuesday evening when AQI marked values of nitrates "abnormally high". In RK Puram area, value of same pollutant was recorded at 170.8 µgm-3.

Taking cognisance on vehicular emission, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed the Centre's plea seeking modification of its order banning ten-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR. The Tribunal noted that emissions from diesel vehicles is carcinogenic in nature and in its verdict, the tribunal mention that one diesel vehicle causes pollution equivalent to 24 petrol vehicles or 40 CNG vehicles.

Meanwhile, amid festive season and winter onset, SAFAR released its advisory and observations on air quality status about national Capital.

"There is likelihood of increase in upper air winds and wind direction changing to NNW from October 22, which may deteriorate Delhi air quality, if synoptic condition remains same, exactly when cracker effect (if any) will diminish," SAFAR press statement quoted.

"Given the above scenario, the contribution of transport from distance sources is quite less until October 21. It is just due to horizontal spread rather than direct pumping," the SAFAR analysts mentioned.

The experts said Delhi surface winds were extremely calmer so far but now started transiting from calm to lighter winds. "This is still a favourable condition for local pollutants to stay longer and stagnant within Delhi region before getting flushed out. Moisture in the Delhi air is increasing and morning temperature is declining. This may increase atmospheric holding capacity of the emissions coming from firecrackers," they said.

Experts forecast that the highest levels of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected between 11AM and 3AM on the night of 19-20, October and Air Quality will be start to improve further from Oct 21.

"Most striking factor is that share of PM2.5 (relatively more harmful than coarser 2 particles) in PM10 expected to remain same as normal in last 2 scenarios (50 per cent and 0 per cent) unlike last year when it increased by 10-20 per cent during Diwali period as compared to normal days which made AQ more toxic," SAFAR mentioned in its official statement.

Source : https://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/parking-may-cost-you-4-times-more.html