The ambient air quality monitoring network across Delhi-NCR is set to become significantly denser, with 55 more continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) to be added by the end of this year, officials aware of the matter said.
A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report released in September last year had highlighted the gaps in Delhi’s existing network. “The final locations are still being fixed so the final list will only be shared in the coming months. The expansion is aimed at addressing gaps in the region’s air-quality data, particularly in areas that currently have limited or no continuous monitoring.
“In the latest review meeting, held in August, the figure has increased from 84 stations to 102 stations. However, another 55 stations will be added by the end of this year, taking the total across NCR to 157 stations. It found that monitoring stations covered only 26% of the city’s geographical area within a 2km radius, while 75% was covered within a 5km radius.
This will satisfy the criteria set in February and will be a scientific approach towards data monitoring,” the official, who requested anonymity, said. The final locations are yet to be decided, the official said. However, a number of these stations are already in the tendering stage and we expect them to be able to generate air quality data this winter itself,” he said. This left around 25% of the city as a monitoring “shadow area”, largely in peripheral districts.
The expansion will take the total number of operational stations across Delhi and NCR towns in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan from the current 102 to 157, meeting a coverage criterion of a station every 25-50 square kilometres (5km x 5km) set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Union environment ministry. Also Read I Delhi saw excess rain this month due to favourable weather system: Experts
