Unlike the public perception, the pollution levels in the capital last year was not as bad as other years, Delhi High Court said on Thursday after analysing the scientific data filed by the state pollution control panel.
A bench comprising Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva after perusing the data filed by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) said the year 2015 was relatively a better year in terms of pollution index but it does not mean the situation was great.
“Conclusion of DPCC report seen and general impression one gets is that year 2015 was better from scientific point of view. But it doesn’t mean the situation is not far from great as PM 2.5, PM 10, Nitrogen Dioxide and Benzene level was beyond the maximum prescribed,” the bench said.
It also observed that high level of benzene and Nitrogen Dioxide in the air was on account of vehicular pollution. The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it on its own on the issue of air pollution in the national capital.
The DPCC report filed by a scientist, Dr George, through advocate Sanjeev Ralli, indicated that during three periods – October to November, December to January and May to June, air pollution in the capital rose to very high levels.
The court after perusing the report queried which period is the best period for national capital, to which Ralli said that it was February-March when pollution level is in control. The report further said that in October-November, the pollution level was at a higher level due to burning of biomass and crops in neighbouring states, while in December- January it was on account of temperature inversions and in May-June due to dust storms emanating from Rajasthan.
Delhi traffic police also filed a report in the court identifying 14 spots, congested junctions or corridors in Delhi, as extremely affected. These spots include IIT Flyover to Panchsheel (Hauz Khas Metro Station), Gurgaon Road-Dhaula Kuan/RR Hospital, Ashram Chowk, Khanpur T-Point, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Mukarba Chowk, Uttam Nagar Chowk, Peera Garhi Chowk and Kamal T-Point.
Other junctions include G T Road Shastri Park, Saket Metro Station, Akshardham, Mayur Vihar Metro Station and Rao Tula Ram Marg from Moti Bagh Chowk up to Outer Ring Road.
