Delhi to get real-time pollution source data from August 1 | Details here

Delhi will have real-time pollution source data that will help in taking controlling measures and reducing pollution. It will become the first city in the country to identify the real-time source of air pollution.

The Delhi government on Wednesday said real-time data on pollution sources in the national capital will be available from August 1.

A supersite will be established on Pandara Road in Central Delhi by the end of July to identify sources of pollution in real-time. It was said after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chaired a review meeting with teams from IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on the ambitious Real-Time Source Apportionment System and Pollution Forecasting Project.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Environment Minister Gopal Rai, Delhi Development Commission Vice Chairperson Jasmine Shah and other high-ranking officials were present at the meeting.

Kejriwal said real-time identification of pollutants will significantly help in taking controlling measures and reducing pollution.

During the review meeting, Professor Mukesh Khare from IIT Kanpur informed the chief minister that a mobile application will also be developed as part of the system.

"In Delhi, pollution remains in the 'moderate category' around October 9 every year," CM said.

"After that, the pollution level starts increasing suddenly. Looking at NASA's photos, it has been noticed that a large amount of stubble is burnt during that period. Whereas, the figures every time say that only five per cent of Delhi's pollution can be blamed upon stubble. In such a situation, it is important to ascertain the actual contribution of stubble in Delhi's pollution and how much other factors contribute. This would enable real-time detection of factors causing pollution in the state and help in controlling that source of pollution," a statement quoted Kejriwal as saying.