Anand Vihar tops list of most polluted places in the country

Based on the analysis of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, out of a list of the most polluted regions of the country, Delhi tops the list with many of its regions recording severe air pollution.

Delhi’s Anand Vihar has being branded the most polluted region of the country with places like Punjabi Bagh, Mandir Marg and RK Puram not so far behind. 

Most of these places contain PM 2.5 levels in the range of 350-400 micrograms per cubic metre which fall under the severest of categories with Anand Vihar in some cases also registering PM 2.5 levels at almost  500 micrograms per cubic metre.

The particulate matters along with the suspension of other toxic gases can severely affect the health of citizens, according to experts. Many pulmonologists in the Capital city have informed of the poor breathing and lung capacity of their patients caused due to high air pollution.  

 

According to Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the pollution in Delhi is attributed to a high number of vehicles present on Delhi roads. They also emphasised on the fact that drastic actions should be taken to clean the Delhi air.

With the Delhi government now trying to promote the Car Free Days on 22nd of every month, environmentalists have stated that the authorities have to do more in order to clean the Capital’s air. They also stressed on the fact that the government should spread the relevance of Car Free Days to the citizens rather than making it a photo-op. Many environmentalists, however, expressed their satisfaction that Car Free Days have managed to reduce the level of pollution in the areas where it was conducted.

The Delhi government in the past have tried mulling over ideas of adding taxes on more than two vehicles, congestion tax and have also tried to promote the use of solar energy.