Waste burning — municipal, plastic, rubber-containing waste — was the top contributor to the city’s air pollution Tuesday at 20.4%, while vehicles occupied the second position at 19.6%, according to new real-time source apportionment data. New Delhi: Waste burning has now become one of the top sources of Delhi’s air pollution.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s new laboratory, Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory, was inaugurated on Oct 24 at New Rajendra Nagar and provides real-time source apportionment data. the contribution of roadside or open biomass burning — leaves, grass, vegetation, small biomass piles — was 2.6%, wood burning 2.5% and dung-cake burning 2.2% While waste burning was the dominant source of PM2.5 Tuesday. He added that 623 staff had been deployed in enforcement teams and 600 in teams at the ward level.
Sunil Dahiya, founder of think tank Envirocatalyst, said the study confirmed waste burning as a consistent contributor to Delhi’s winter air pollution, which was entirely local and preventable.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said Delhi’s waste burning reflected inadequate efforts to fulfil Swachh Bharat Mission goals of universal segregation, collection, material recovery and legacy site remediation. These teams monitor and inspect biomass burning, dust pollution arising from construction and demolition activities, use of unauthorised fuels, illegal dumping of C&D waste or garbage, and C&D waste storage or dumping sites,” said a civic official. Burning of garbage, wood, and garden and plastic waste is one of the major sources of pollution in Delhi in winter. “Under the winter action plan, MCD has constituted joint enforcement teams.