IIT Kanpur signs MoU, Delhi will now get accurate information about real-time sources of air pollution

New Delhi: In the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, MoU has been approved between IIT Kanpur and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). There has been an agreement between the Kejriwal government and IIT Kanpur regarding technology. After which accurate information about the real-time source of air pollution will now be available in Delhi. The sources of air pollution will be tracked in real-time. A forecast will be issued for air pollution management in Delhi. CM Arvind Kejriwal said that this will go a long way in identifying and resolving various factors of Delhi's pollution.

A detailed proposal is put forward titled- “Real-Time Source Apportionment and Forecasting for Advance Air Pollution Management in Delhi” and has been submitted by Prof Mukesh Sharma, IIT-Kanpur. A team of IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Delhi, The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), and IISER Mohali will execute the study in the national capital. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (On Behalf of Department of Environment GNCTD) has been authorized to act as the nodal agency for finalizing and implementing the terms of reference of the proposed study and finalize payment conditions and sign MoU with IIT-Kanpur led consortium with approval of the Cabinet.

The technology to carry out real-time source apportionment of pollution has not been implemented in any other city in the country. Weekly, monthly, and seasonal interpretation of air quality will take place, along with additional knowledge of PAHs, molecular markers, and secondary organic and inorganic aerosols. Also, PM10 source apportionment will be considered after the winter analysis of PM2.5 and source apportionment, which will have separate financial implications. State-of-the-art supersite capable of monitoring NOx, SO2, Ozone, BTX, elemental carbon, organic carbon, and other organic compounds will take place. Forecasting air quality and Air Quality Index (AQI) at multiple locations, within and outside Delhi will be controlled wherever feasible.

With today’s approval from the Cabinet, the scientists will start working on this innovative project in full swing. This will go a long way in identifying the various factors contributing to Delhi pollution and resolving them. Low cost unmanned spatial monitoring network for hotspots and critical areas will be carried out. The funds will be used under the planning scheme of “Pollution Control and Hazard Management” as “Matching Saving” by the Finance Department for releasing funds on-demand basis to DPCC. GNCTD will allocate fund amounts up to Rs. 12.727 crores for the above purpose.

The “Real-time Source apportionment” project will help identify the factors responsible for the spike in air pollution at any spot in Delhi. It will help understand the real-time impact of various pollution sources like vehicles, dust, biomass burning, stubble burning, and emissions from industries. Based on the results obtained, the Delhi government will be able to take the necessary actions to curb the sources of pollution. This is to ensure smooth implementation of the project, attainment of the objectives, and efficient monitoring of the project.  This will go a long way in identifying the various factors contributing to Delhi's pollution and addressing those factors.