Delhi's air quality has deteriorated drastically, beats Beijing

New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated drastically, beating Beijing which is possibly the most polluted in Asia, according a study. The study shows that atmospheric particulate matter has registered a 47 per cent increase in the last 12 years. A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study found that the Chinese capital has worked much harder in achieving better air quality while despite facing similar challenge of cleaning up its air, Delhi has lacked aggression and stringency of action needed to protect public health. [caption id=“attachment_1365433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] CSE found an increase in the annual trend in ‘PM10’ in Delhi after reviewing and comparing the available air quality data from the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Central Pollution Control Board. The CSE report said that as far as annual trend in PM10 levels was concerned, it found that in Beijing, it had decreased by about 40 per cent from 2000 to 2013 while in Delhi, the PM10 levels have increased by about 47 per cent from 2000 to 2011. “PM10 levels in Delhi are nearly double that of Beijing,” the CSE statement said. PTI