New Delhi ‘Odd–Even II’: A Hasty Repeat

Abstract

Three months after Odd–Even I, Delhi government again came forward with Odd–Even phase II experiment during April 15–30, 2016 without making any change in the rules of ‘Odd– Even’ phase I. This time too, the pollution level was not improved.  Results indicated that the levels of PM2.5 and ozone were showing poor air quality at various sites in the city. At Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Dilshad Garden, on April 14, 2016 one day before implementation of rule the PM2.5 level was recorded as 71µg/m3 which corresponded with value of Air Quality Index (AQI) 137. While on April 15, 2016 the first day 110µg/m3 which corresponded with value of AQI 267. Similarly, increasing levels of PM2.5 were obtained at various sites, i.e., Shadipur, Mandir Marg, ISBT Anand Vihar, R.K. Puram and Punjabi Bagh. These elevated values suggested that there was no improvement in air quality during implementation of the toughest calls for public well fare. Instead of decreasing, the pollution level went up because of several reasons such as climatic conditions, violation of rules by public and interference of other sources, etc. One important fact that Delhi is situated in the region where particulate matter levels are naturally high due to suspended atmospheric dust was ignored for choosing the timings of this trial. In order to differentiate the impact of vehicular traffic versus industrial emissions and road dust vs automobile exhaust, such kind of trials should have been conducted during monsoon season when dust is scavenged by the rain. In the months of July and August soil is generally wet and suspension of road dust and construction dust is also very least.  Keywords: Odd–Even II, assessment, traffic air pollution, particulate matter, urban area  Cite this Article Yogender Singh, Umesh Kulshrestha. New Delhi ‘Odd–Even II’: A Hasty Repeat. Journal of Energy Environment and Carbon Credits. 2016; 6(3): 1–8p.