13 hot spots, 57 pollution sources under tight vigil

The state environment department has identified 57 sources of pollution in a fresh mapping at Delhi's 13 hot spots, with Mundka and Anand Vihar accounting for the most, according to data shared by the department with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

In comparison, 67 sources of pollution were identified at these hot spots last year.

A senior environment department official said the mapping exercise factored in previously identified sources, following checks on whether they were controlled.

Dust and vehicular emission remain the key sources of pollution, with new construction sites - such as the RRTS station in Anand Vihar and UER-2 road in Mundka - accounting for most of the newer sources, besides industrial operations.

These newer sources have been earmarked for focused action, the official said.

"The new list of sources has been shared with all agencies, including the nodal officer for each hot spot," the official, not wishing to be named, said.

The move comes after a review meeting held by CAQM on November 8 to assess action taken to control pollution, especially at hot spots.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified these hot spots in 2018 based on the annual PM 2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less) concentration of these locations clocking higher readings than Delhi's mean.