Odd-even 2nd phase: Air quality to be measured at 119 locations in city

Delhi government will check the air quality at 119 locations, including 21 areas on the city’s periphery and at its seven major entry points as the second fortnightly phase of the odd-even vehicle rationing plan kicks off on April 15.

The decision in this regard was taken in the light of claims by some organisations that there was no reduction in air pollution during the first phase of the car rationing scheme from January 1 to 15 even though the government had claimed otherwise.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will monitor air quality on a regular basis at 74 of the 119 locations through light scattering-based technology. The data on the samples collected will be released every 48 hours while the vehicle restriction is in place.

Also, the government will map the air quality in Delhi-NCR within a distance of 2 km from the border, he said.

“During the second phase, we will monitor air quality with special reference to PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 119 different locations. We have also identified 20 residential and 15 industrial areas to do mapping of air quality through random checking,” Rai told reporters here.

It has also been decided that the air quality would be monitored at major roads and 10 connectors to these at a distance of every 1-2 km, he said. However, no samples will be collected on Sunday, when the restrictions are off.

Asked about the final notification on the scheme, the minister said the government will “most probably” come out with it on Monday. 

“I solicit your cooperation in making Odd-Even Part 2 a success and implement our plan to restrict the entry of heavy diesel vehicles in Delhi,” Rai said in a letter to his counterparts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and the governor of Uttarakhand, which is currently under Central rule.