New Delhi, Nov 7 The Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE) today blamed the thick smog observed over
the NCR region today to rising pollution and urged the Centre
to notify proposed new air quality standards at the earliest.
Even as the government agencies maintained that smog was
a routine phenomenon observed during the winter season, CSE
felt its presence reflected that Delhi's air was increasingly
becoming more polluted and unbreathable, bringing back the
pre-CNG days.
Based on its latest analysis of recent air quality data
in Delhi, the environmental organisation said that in 2001,
when the CNG programme was on, the annual average level of
respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM, or PM10) in
residential areas stood at 149 microgram per cubic metre.
"After registering a drop in 2005, the level has shot up
to 209 microgram per cubic metre in 2008. - (Agencies)
Nov 07, 2009
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