Take a deep breath in
National Institute of Advanced Studies
A traffic mix of slow-moving, low-speed, and high-speed vehicles is the biggest issue that Bengaluru is facing, which is impacting the city's air quality
— Professor Gufran Beig, chair at NIAS
Other than lowering the blistering heat, rain has had a positive impact on the air too. Bengaluru's air quality has improved after a few spells of rain throughout April, data has revealed.The city witnessed more days with a 'satisfactory' air quality index in April compared with previous months.Bengaluru logged 27 'satisfactory' and three 'moderate' air quality days in the month. Experts say this is because the rain, along with increased humidity, led to the settling down of air pollutants from vehicular traffic and dust particles.'Better air quality and a greater number of 'good' air quality days can be attributed to April showers. Bengaluru has witnessed excess rainfall in the month, leading to dust and particulate matter settling down. Although the duration of the showers was low, most of them were of high intensity, washing away pollutants,' said an air quality expert.According to standards prescribed by the(CPCB), an air quality index (AQI) of 0-50 is categorised as 'good,' AQI of 51-100 is considered 'satisfactory,' AQI of 101-200 is termed as 'moderate,' and AQI values ranging from 201-300 are considered 'poor.'Bengaluru also experienced more 'good' air quality days in many areas in March this year compared to the previous year.The Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) at Nisarga Bhavan recorded 28 good air quality days in March this year, in comparison to only seven such days in March 2024. Similarly, Stations in Jaynagar and Mysore Road recorded one 'good' air quality day each. CAAQMS at NIMHANS showed that the area witnessed six 'good' air quality days, and HSR Layout station recorded three such days this year. In 2024, all these stations had recorded zero 'good' air quality days.However, Professor Gufran Beig, chair at the(NIAS) and an air quality expert, says the increase in 'good' air quality days in March this year is accidental. Notably, Professor Beig and his team conducted an emission hotspot study in the city last year and found that Bengaluru has 80 locations with high levels of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 emissions.Researchers also revealed that the total annual particulate emissions in the city in 2023-24 reached 113 Gg/year for PM10 and 68 Gg/year in the case of PM2.5. Improvements in traffic management, infrastructure, power supply, industrial emissions control, and waste management practices were some recommendations made by the researchers.'Not much has happened on the ground after we published our study last year. A traffic mix of slow-moving, low-speed, and high-speed vehicles is the biggest issue that Bengaluru is facing, which is impacting the city's air quality. The prime reason is bus stops without designated bays. Buses block lanes while picking up and dropping off passengers, causing emissions. This is the first step towards making the city's hotspots more bearable,' said Professor Beig.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Delhi Cloud Seeding Project 2025: Artificial Rain to Combat Air Pollution
Inside Delhi's Cloud Seeding Mission to Clean the Air Delhi had planned India's first artificial rain trial, from July 4 to 11. But just days before launch, it was postponed. The irony? The monsoon clouds weren't good enough for rain .So, what exactly was the plan? And why does it matter? Under a ₹3.21 crore project, the Delhi Environment Department, along with IIT Kanpur, wanted to seed clouds using a modified Cessna 206-H aircraft. The idea? To wash out harmful pollutants, especially PM2.5 and PM10 from the air. Now, you may ask what these are. PM2.5 and PM10 are microscopic particles, 2.5 and 10 micrometres wide, small enough to reach deep into your lungs and bloodstream. They're major contributors to Delhi's toxic air. Here's how cloud seeding works. The aircraft releases a mix of silver iodide, iodised salt, and rock salt into the clouds, specifically nimbostratus clouds at altitudes between 500 and 6,000 metres. This chemical blend triggers raindrop formation and that rain helps clean the air below. Each flight lasts about 90 minutes and covers around 100 square kilometres. The target zones? Some of Delhi's most polluted areas, Rohini, Bawana, Alipur, Burari, and even parts of western UP like Loni and Baghpat .The project has approvals from the India Meteorological Department and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Flights will avoid VIP zones and restricted airspace, and follow all aviation rules. Five flights are planned. After each, pollution levels will be measured to track the impact. This trial is part of Delhi's 2025–26 Environment Action Plan, which includes, AI-based pollution enforcement, anti-smog guns, real-time dust monitoring and cleaner public transport. Cloud seeding has been used in various countries, with mixed but measurable outcomes. In the United States, especially in Colorado and Nevada, cloud seeding has been practised for decades to boost snowfall and support water supplies. Independent evaluations show a 5–15% increase in precipitation a modest but valuable gain, particularly in drought-prone regions. China has used cloud seeding extensively, not just for drought management, but also to clear skies ahead of major events, like the 2008 Beijing Olympics. While the government reports success, many international experts say it's difficult to quantify exactly how effective these efforts are, due to the complex nature of weather systems. The United Arab Emirates runs one of the world's most aggressive and advanced cloud seeding programs, conducting over 200 missions annually. Recent studies suggest an average increase of about 22–30% in rainfall, with some localised areas seeing even more. However, following record floods in April 2024, the UAE's heaviest rainfall in 75 years, some speculated that cloud seeding was to blame. In Russia, cloud seeding is typically used for short-term, ceremonial purposes, like ensuring clear skies for parades and public events. Officials say it's been consistently effective for these limited applications. So, why the delay in Delhi? Despite active monsoon conditions, the current clouds don't have the right moisture content for seeding .The new window? August 30 to September 10, but again, it all depends on the weather. If it works, this could be a game-changer in how Indian cities fight air pollution. But for now, all eyes are on the skies. Presentation & Editing: Vishnoo Jotshi Video: Aniket Singh Chauhan
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Delhi air remains cleanest for 11 days in a row; rain predicted on Monday
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi remained in the 'satisfactory' category for the 11th consecutive day on Sunday, the cleanest spell recorded so far this year. The AQI was recorded at 76 at 4 pm on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It has remained below 100 throughout the last 11 days, after plunging from 134 (moderate category) on June 25 to 94 (satisfactory) on June 26. According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. The national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is 0.5 degrees above the season's average. The minimum temperature was at 28.8 degrees Celsius, while the relative humidity stood at 83 per cent at 5.30 pm. Meanwhile, most parts of the city recorded below-normal maximum temperatures on Sunday. Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, recorded 35 degrees Celsius, while Palam was relatively cooler at 33.5 degrees Celsius, 3.9 degrees below normal and a three-degree drop from the previous day, the IMD report said. Minimum temperatures remained close to normal, with Safdarjung logging 28.8 degrees Celsius. Night temperatures showed slight variations across locations but remained within the seasonal range. As for rainfall, moderate showers were reported in several parts of the city since Saturday. Ayanagar recorded the highest rainfall at 11.7 mm in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Sunday. Palam received 20.9 mm rain, Lodi Road 1.5 mm, and Safdarjung 0.8 mm. The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for Monday, predicting light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 33 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively, it said.
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Rain with thunderstorms likely in Delhi in coming hours, orange alert issued
Delhi is likely to witness heavy to very heavy rain clubbed with thunderstorms and lightning in the next few hours, as the weather department has issued an orange alert for the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds at maximum surface speeds between 40 and 60 kmph can be expected in the national capital and adjoining areas during this the maximum temperature is likely to settle at around 33 degrees Celsius. Earlier, the people of Delhi saw some respite from humid conditions as the city recorded a minimum temperature of 28.8 degrees Celsius, which was 0.8 degrees below the average minimum of the also experienced fresher air as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed that the Air Quality Index stood at a 'satisfactory' 82 at around 9 am on moderate rain of up to 5 to 15 millimetres per hour is also likely in Jammu & Kashmir, South Uttar Pradesh, South Haryana, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra, southwest Bihar and weather department has also issued a red alert for rain for parts of eastern Madhya Pradesh and the adjoining BATTERS HIMACHAL PRADESHHimachal Pradesh witnessed widespread damage to public property as heavy rain continued to batter large swathes of the hill state, with land slides and flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in many the monsoon arrived in Himachal on June 20, the state has recorded 74 deaths, of which 47 were linked to rain-related incidents which included cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides. Another 115 people have been injured in these incidents so is no immediate relief likely for Himachal as the weather panel has predicted very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Kangra Mandi and Sirmaur districts in the next few hours, and has issued a red moderate to high flash flood risk has been forecast for parts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, Solan districts in the next 24 hours.- EndsWith agency inputsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Delhi#Himachal Pradesh
