Six Areas to Get New Air Quality Monitoring

Why in the News?

1. Delhi is going to set up six new air quality monitoring stations. 
2. These will be Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS).
   1. CAAQMS are special stations that keep checking the air quality all the time (24/7).
   2. They help to find out how clean or polluted the air is in a particular area.
3. This is being done by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
4. The goal is to get better information about pollution in areas that are not usually seen as polluted.
5. The government wants these stations to start working by August 2025, before the winter season begins.

What are the Key Highlights

1. These new stations will be placed in areas like:
   1. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
   2. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
   3. ISRO Earth Station
   4. Delhi Cantonment
   5. Commonwealth Sports Complex
   6. Netaji Subhash University (West Campus)
2. Delhi already has 40 automatic and 7 manual stations.
3. Out of the 40 automatic stations, 26 were set up by the DPCC. The rest were set up by IMD, IITM, and CPCB.
4. Stations must be in open areas with good airflow.
5.  CPCB suggests number of stations based on city population:
   1. 1–5 lakh: 4 stations
   2. Up to 10 lakh: 6 stations
   3. Up to 50 lakh: 8 stations
   4. Above 50 lakh: at least 16 stations
6. They must be at least 25 metres away from chimneys or roads.
7. Equipment must be 20 metres away from trees or buildings to avoid wrong data.
8. The sampler should be placed 3 metres above ground level.
9. The stations will measure many pollutants such as:
   1.  PM10, PM2.5, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia, benzene, and toluene.
10. These stations will also record weather data like wind speed, temperature, and humidity.
11. The data will be sent in real time to the DPCC and CPCB servers.
12. Each station will have a digital display board to show current air quality.
13. These stations will work all day and all year (at least 90% of the time).

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It plays a key role in monitoring and controlling environmental pollution in India. Establishment: Established: 1974 Under: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 Also entrusted powers under: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 Headquarters: New Delhi Key Objectives: To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States. To improve the quality of air and prevent, control, or abate air pollution.

What are the Significances?

1. Better Pollution Tracking Across the City: These stations will give pollution data from areas that are not usually seen as pollution hotspots, like green or less crowded places.
2. Complete and Fair Data Collection: Earlier, only busy or polluted places were being monitored. Now, even cleaner-looking areas will be covered, giving a full and fair picture of Delhi’s air quality.
3. Helps Government Take Local Actions: The data will help the government make area-wise plans to reduce pollution, like controlling vehicle traffic or planting trees.
4. Public Awareness: People living near these stations will see real-time air quality data on digital boards and understand pollution levels better.
5. Support for Policy Making: The pollution data can guide scientific research and help in making new environmental policies for Delhi.
6. Winter Pollution Preparation: Since the stations will be ready by August 2025, they will help monitor and manage the sharp rise in pollution during winter months.
7. Use of Advanced Technology: These stations will monitor many pollutants and also record weather conditions, which helps understand how weather affects pollution.

What are the Challenges & Way forward?

Challenges	Way Forward
1. Some people still believe green areas are not polluted	1. Create more public awareness that all areas, including green ones, can have hidden pollution.
2. Limited air monitoring in non-hotspot regions.	2. Expand monitoring stations to more places across Delhi and nearby regions.
3. Equipment may give wrong readings if placed near trees or roads.	3. Follow proper CPCB guidelines strictly while installing stations.
4. High maintenance needed for continuous functioning.	4. Ensure the third-party agency does regular checks and repairs as per agreement.
5. Real-time data may not always be accurate without regular calibration.	5. Conduct regular calibration and quality checks of the instruments.
6. Data must be easy to understand for common people.	6. Display clear and simple Air Quality Index (AQI) on digital boards at each station.
7. Winter months bring sudden pollution spikes	7. Use early data from new stations to prepare action plans in advance
8. Lack of trained staff for data monitoring	Train dedicated teams and appoint qualified monitoring and security staff
9. Long-term funding and commitment required	9. Government must ensure continuous support, funds, and political will for clean air programs

Conclusion

The expansion of Delhi’s air quality monitoring network reflects a shift toward more inclusive and data-driven environmental governance. By installing monitoring stations in areas previously overlooked, authorities aim to capture a fuller picture of pollution exposure across the city. This approach not only enhances scientific understanding but also strengthens public accountability and informed decision-making. Investing in robust infrastructure, long-term maintenance, and transparent data-sharing can pave the way for more effective air quality management and healthier urban living.

Ensure IAS Mains Question: Q. The expansion of air quality monitoring infrastructure in urban India is essential for informed policy-making and public participation. In the context of Delhi's recent decision to install new CAAQMS stations in non-hotspot areas, critically evaluate the significance of decentralized environmental data collection. (250 words)

 

Ensure IAS Prelim MCQ Q. Consider the following statements with respect to Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS): CAAQMS are designed to monitor air quality in real-time, 24 hours a day. These stations can only monitor particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). The samplers used in CAAQMS should be placed at least 10 metres above ground level. How many of the above statements is/are correct? Only one Only two All three None Answer: a Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. CAAQMS monitors air quality continuously in real time. Statement 2 is incorrect. They monitor multiple pollutants including SO₂, NOx, CO, O₃, ammonia, benzene, and toluene, apart from PM10 and PM2.5. Statement 3 is incorrect. The CPCB recommends placing samplers 3 metres above ground, not 10 metres.