Odd Even Pollution Status of Delhi !

At Anand Vihar, Benzene was at 20.00 ( 8am ) i.e. 4 times of the norms and touched again the peak of 20.80 ( 8pm ), though in between it varied from one position to other. PM 10 was around 361 ( 10 am ) & PM 2.5 was at 190 ( 10 – 10.30 am ) i.e. more than 3 times.

At Civil Lines Benzene touched the peak of 7.90 (8.30 am), PM 10 was mostly between Appx. 300 to 400. At 7.30 am it touched the peak of 423.20, again at 1.30 pm it climbed to 394.36 and at 7.30 pm, it was again at 390.95. PM 2.5 was between 340.21 ( 8 am ) to 253.13 ( 11.30 am ).

At Punjabi bagh, PM10 was between 408 ( 8am ) to 313 ( 10.30 am ) while PM 2.5 was between 140 ( 8am ) to 119 ( 10.30 am ). At R K Puram, PM10 was at 384 ( 10 – 10.30 am ) while PM 2.5 was at 152 ( 9am ) to 136 ( 10.30 am ).

At IGI Airport Benzene was as usual on the higher side at more than 9 upto 11 am., PM 10 was in the range of 200, though previous days average was 359 and PM 2.5 data was not available. At Mandir marg PM 10 was between 298 to 216 ( 8 – 10.30 am ), while PM 2.5 was almost within the limit during this tenure.

Indian Institute of Tropical Meterology, showed the Air Quality level at Moderate level at 5.45 pm today in Delhi. It showed PM 10 at an average of 202.4 and PM 2.5 at 75.4. It has predicted the Moderate Air Quality Level in Delhi for the next two days and for the same period in Mumbai & Pune, it’s showing the Air Quality Level as GOOD.

Thanks

B S Vohra

www.RWABhagidari.com 

Odd-even back, traffic eases - Half-cooked exemption for schoolchildren falls flat

New Delhi, April 15: Delhi's roads seemed empty today as odd-even vehicle rationing returned three months after the pollution control experiment was first tried.

Toxic gases and particulate matter remained above safe limits although travel time was cut by at least two-thirds - both trends having continued from the first phase.

Unlike the first trial, the schools are open. Today, however, was Ram Navami and most schools, government offices and private firms remained closed. Also, many Delhi residents have headed to the hills for the long weekend.

"Many kids in our area have skipped school - the Guru Harkrishan Public School here was open," Krishna Nagar resident B.S. Vohra told this newspaper. "Some of those who neither take buses nor have arranged for carpools decided to skip classes."

The government has exempted cars carrying school-uniform-wearing children but not those returning after dropping them or going to pick them up - in effect, nullifying the exemption.

But transport minister Gopal Rai played down the inconsistency, highlighting the continuing exemption to women drivers (provided they are not driving adult male passengers).

"Eighty-five per cent of those who drop children to school and pick them up are women," he told reporters, without revealing the source of the stat.

"They should enquire about other children in their vicinity and drop them at their homes too."

Yogesh Agrawal, who normally drives his son to school in east Delhi before coming to his shop near Parliament, woke up early today.

"We decided to walk to his school. In the afternoon, his grandfather will walk him back. We're lucky that the school isn't too far. Others are carpooling or have booked autos."

One of Delhi's 15-odd auto-rickshaw unions and a taxi drivers' union have declared a strike on Monday demanding 10,000 new auto permits and a ban on mobile-app-based cabs found violating the CNG-fuel norm.

Delhi has only around one lakh autos, almost a fifth of which run without legal papers, to cater to its population of 1.65 crore - the lowest auto-to-population ratio in India.

The government and the schools are promoting carpooling. "We normally encourage them to carpool even without the odd-even rationing in force," Bal Bharati Public School principal L.V. Sehgal said.

Entrepreneur Anchal Agarwal has just bought a third car - a diesel SUV with even number plates. She already has a sedan and a hatchback with odd number plates. People can buy an even or odd registration number for Rs 20,000 in Delhi.

"As a woman, I'm exempt but my brother and father need to travel to work. My brother drives 50km from Anand Lok to Wazirpur every day," she said. "We plan to sell one of the old cars."

By evening, 1,311 cars had been fined Rs 2,000 for violations. The government plans to fine-tune the scheme in this round and make it a permanent feature every month.

With thanks : Telegraph - Kolkatta - LINK

Do you think ODD EVEN has any impact on the Air Quality of Delhi ?

Yeah ! this is now a big question. There seems not much respite if we go through various official sites to check the data connected with Air Pollution. Not much respite in Pollution in Delhi, though it was a Saturday when most of the Govt offices are closed. The only visible benefit of Odd Even is the lesser traffic on roads, but at the cost of thousands, who have to face difficulty at various levels.

At Anand vihar Benzene touched a peak of  27.70 at 10 am, while PM 10 remained somewhere between  422 > 418 > 357, 2 - 2.30 pm 389  and PM 2.5 the most dangerous particulate matters were as high as 286 at 11 – 11.30 am i.e. almost 4 - 5 times of the prescribed limits.

At Mandir marg PM10 touched 482 at 8 – 8.30 am with no data after that, while PM 2.5 in the early morning was at 196 & 183, it came down to 136 at 8 am and to 94 at 10.30 with no data after that, but was much higher than the prescribed norms.

At Punjabi Bagh, PM10 was at 456 at 10 – 10.30 am with missing data figures, while PM 2.5 touched 418 at 9.30 am i.e. almost 7 times of the prescribed norms.

While RK Puram had a peak of PM 10 at 465 at 10 am, PM2.5 was almost 2 – 3 times, all the time.

IGI Airport had Benzene levels of 9.75 to 8.16 between 10 – 12 am,  PM 10 was almost twice all the time, while previoys days Average shown was 388.50, with no data available for PM 2.5

At Civil lines, Benzene was almost  2 – 3 times, PM 10 at 8 am was 563 though few hours earlier it had touched the peak of  690.40, it came down to 338.92 by 12 noon. PM 2.5 was almost 2 - 3 times all the time, though previous days average was 144.52 i.e. more than two times.

Though Indian Institute of Tropical Metrology showed PM 10 at 239.90 at Delhi as Moderate, it showed PM 2.5 at 114.9 as POOR Air Quality. Benzene Average at Arjun Nagar in East Delhi was 8.72 much higher than prescribed 5. Anand Vihar again showed the Average PM 10 of 459 while PM 2.5 at 141.  

The Odd Even may have little respite, but do we have any other option ?  I don't think so. Situation is really bad. In spite of Odd Even, there is not much respite and there seems no other visible instant alternative in sight. Therefore, we have no other option, but to support the steps being taken to improve the Air quality in Delhi. Let's see what happens on Monday, that will be a real test to #oddeven. Yeah ! lesser traffic on the road, looks great, but again at the cost of those, who are forced ( Rs 2,000 Challan ), should never be treated as an achievement.

With best regards,

B S Vohra
www.RWABhagidari.com 

RAM EK KHOJ : Watch Mr Prateek Trivedi on Ibn7 at 9pm tonight, Live from Srilanka

Odd Even - Day One Status

Must remember, it was Ram Navmi, a Holiday.

Anand Vihar # :

BENZENE : maximum prescribed limit is 5

At 8am it was 46.90,  8.30 am 52.30, 9am 47.20,  9.30am 41.90, 10am 39.80, 10.30am 33.10, 11am 26.70, 11.30am 25.90 i.e. much above maximum prescribed.

PM 10 : maximum prescribed limit is 100

At 9.30 am it was 492, 10.00 am 439, 10.30 am 439, 2 pm 465, 3 pm 538, 4.30 pm 548.

PM 2.5 : maximum prescribed limit is 60

At 9 – 9.30 am it was 419, 10 – 10.30 308

Mandir Marg # :

PM 10 : maximum prescribed limit is 100

At 8.30 am it was 482 and no details after that.

PM 2.5 : maximum prescribed limit is 60

At 8 – 9.30 am it was 136, 10 – 10.30 94, and no details after that. 

Punjabi Bagh # :

PM 10 : maximum prescribed limit is 100

At 10 to 10.30 am it was 453, 11 – 11.30  392, with missing data at different timings.

PM 2.5 : maximum prescribed limit is 60

At 8 – 9.30 am it was 151, 10 – 10.30 206, 11 – 11.30 145 and so on.  

R K Puram # :

PM 10 : maximum prescribed limit is 100

At 8 to 8.30 am it was 613, 9 – 9.30  213, and so on.

PM 2.5 : maximum prescribed limit is 60

At 8 – 8.30 am it was 298, 9 – 9.30 206, 11 – 11.30 145 and at 5 pm it again climbed to 173.

IGI Airport # :

BENZENE : maximum prescribed limit is 5

At 8am to 10 am it was 10.01,  and for the rest of the time it was above 8.

PM 10 : maximum prescribed limit is 100

At 8 am it was 185.95 and at 4.30 pm it climbed to 238.61.

PM 2.5 : maximum prescribed limit is 60

No Data Available.

Civil Lines # :

BENZENE : maximum prescribed limit is 5

At 3am it was 39.80 and with various ups & downs it was at 8 am at 17.14.

PM 10 : maximum prescribed limit is 100

At 6.30 to 7.30 it was at 933.16 and at 8 am it was 831.37, and at 8.30 pm it climbed to 842.12, with various ups & downs, it ended at 4.30 pm it was 338.06.

PM 2.5 : maximum prescribed limit is 60

At 1 am it had touched the peak of 797.57 i.e. almost 13 + times and with various ups & downs at 4pm it was 271.36 & at 4.30 239.08.

Trying to analyze data from various sources. will revert.

best regards,

B S Vohra
www.RWABhagidari.com 

# Source DPCC with thanks.

Air Pollution : PM 2.5 Risk Factors !

Good 0-50	It’s a great day to be active outside.
Moderate 51-100	Some people who may be unusually sensitive to particle pollution.	Unusually sensitive people: Consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier. Everyone else: It’s a good day to be active outside.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101-150	Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers.	Sensitive groups: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. It’s OK to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy. If you have heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your heath care provider.
Unhealthy 151 to 200	Everyone	Sensitive groups: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when the air quality is better. Everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during all outdoor activities.
Very Unhealthy  201-300	Everyone	Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when air quality is better. Everyone else: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality is better.
Hazardous 301-500	Everyone	Everyone: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Sensitive groups: Remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors.

Odd Even in Delhi from Tomorrow !

(i) The plying of non-transport four wheeled vehicles (Motor Cars etc.) having registration number ending with odd digit (1,3,5,7,9) shall be prohibited on even dates of the month of April (i.e. 16th ,18th, 20th, 22nd, 26th and so on) and plying of the non-transport Vehicles having registration number ending with even digit (0,2,4,6,8) shall be prohibited on odd dates of the month of April (i.e. 15th , 19th, 21st, 23rd ,25th and so on). 

(ii) These restrictions shall also apply to the non-transport four wheeled vehicles bearing registration number of other states. 

(iii) These restrictions shall be applicable from 8 AM to 8 PM of such dates. 

(iv) These restrictions shall not be applicable on Sundays. 

(v)  These restrictions shall not apply to the vehicles of such categories as mentioned in the Schedule annexed to this notification. 

(vi)  Violation of these orders shall attract a fine of Rs. 2OOO/- in accordance with the provisions of sub- section (1) of section L94 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Odd Even Vs Pollution levels in Delhi at 5 pm - 14.04.2016 !

Odd Even Vs. Pollution levels in Delhi is truly the main cause of concern & attention, in the present scenario. I just checked the PM 10 & PM 2.5 at various locations and the out come is as below :

14.04.2016   -   5 PM

At Anand Vihar :

Particulate Matter < 10 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:00:00	310 µg/m3	100 µg/m3
Particulate Matter < 2.5 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:00:00	62 µg/m3	60 µg/m3

At Mandir marg :

Particulate Matter < 10 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:20:00	99 µg/m3	100 µg/m3
Particulate Matter < 2.5 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:20:00	7 µg/m3	60 µg/m3

At Punjabi Bagh : 

Particulate Matter < 10 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:15:00	153 µg/m3	100 µg/m3
Particulate Matter < 2.5 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:15:00	21 µg/m3	60 µg/m3

At R K Puram : 

Particulate Matter < 10 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:20:00	157 µg/m3	100 µg/m3
Particulate Matter < 2.5 µg	Thursday, April 14, 2016	17:20:00	49 µg/m3	60 µg/m3

At IGI Airport :

Particulates PM 10 (Real Time)	Thursday, April 14, 2016	16:45:00	195.03 µg/m3	100 µg/m3
Particulates PM 2.5 (Real Time)	Thursday, April 14, 2016	16:45:00	Data not available	60 µg/m3

At Civil Lines : 

Particulates PM 10 (Real Time)	Thursday, April 14, 2016	16:30:00	386.77 µg/m3	100 µg/m3
Particulates PM 2.5 (Real Time)	Thursday, April 14, 2016	16:30:00	209.07 µg/m3	60 µg/m3

Will try to upload regularly the comparative data for all the odd / even days in Delhi. Let's see what's the real outcome.

Thanks

B S Vohra
www.RWABhagidari.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.in 

Leisure spots turning into crime PLAYGROUNDS dens : Hindustan Times

Tired of poor security, residents of East of Kailash in South Delhi have formed a 20-member team to guard the 200-acre Astha Kunj Park and the areas surrounding it. At least two robbery and chainsnatching incidents are reported daily in and around the DDA park that leads to the residential colony, residents say. Vijay Jatyan, who is in charge of the team, said a man’s body was found near the park a couple of months ago.

“The park has been a breeding ground for criminals. Since the police could not do much over the years, we charted out a daily schedule to deploy our men armed with canes. From 7am to 10 pm, three to four elderly residents guard the area in shifts,” he said.

Lack of proper lighting and security guards turned the areas meant for fun and recreation into crime dens. Bodies were found in another DDA park. In September, a decomposed and chopped body of a man in his twenties was found in Jahanpanah City Forest, one of the two biggest recreational zones for south Delhi residents. Last week too, a body was found. “From gambling to consuming drugs, at sunset this place becomes a home for criminals,” said Friends of Jahanpanah City Forest president SM Agrawal. Another major recreational spot in south Delhi, Sanjay Van in Vasant Kunj, has similar issues.

“The walls are broken at places, giving easy passage to intruders and criminal elements. The absence of regular security staff facilitates unhindered entry of bikers, miscreants and drug addicts,” said Sachin Lohia, a visitor. Vinod Rawat, founder of Working with Nature, has been requesting DDA to enhance the park’s security. The voluntary group assists DDA in maintaining the 783-acre Sanjay Van.

DDA’s Lala Lajpat Rai Park in southeast Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar suffers the same fate. “Weeds have grown around the swings and the park has become a site for consuming alcohol and drugs at night,” said Lajpat Nagar United Society president Pawan Arora.

The corporation parks don’t fare better on security either. At places, miscreants switch off the lights to escape police patrolling. “It is a routine affair in Krishna Nagar central park where miscreants cut the wires so that they can play cards or drink in the park,” said East Delhi’s RWA Joint Front, Federation president BS Vohra. The parks fail on maintenance as well. Broken swings and slides and squalor are a common feature.

The Lala Lajpat Rai Park stands as a symbol of wasted community resource. With broken swings and a dirty ground, the DDA park is a fouracre mass of negligence. Once planned as a ‘fun zone’ with a yoga centre, a cricket pitch and a food plaza, the area is now frequented by drunkards.

Over 80% of the work was complete and the park was scheduled to be inaugurated on August 15, 2008. But even before the park was opened, authorities allegedly started dumping construction waste from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The project was then stalled. The corporation’s parks in east Delhi’s Vishwakarma Na gar, Azadnagar and those in Anand Vihar are equally bad. “Swings were installed in these parks less than four years ago. All of them are in poor condition,” said Vohra.

With thanks : Hindustan Times

Rules for change in Power Load made Consumer Friendly

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal,

Chief Minister, Delhi,

New Delhi.

Sub: Rules for change in Power Load made Consumer Friendly - HALF DONE IS NOT DONE

Respected Arvind Ji,

At the outset I wish to thank you for following up with DERC, our long standing demand for Rationalising Power Load Determination. An average of four consecutive months is a fair way of determining the Sanctioned Load as against the prevailing system of three highest readings in a year.

However this relief is HALF DONE as DISCOMS will continue to make easy money as they levy Fixed Charge on Sanctioned Load, rather than charging for the Maximum Load consumed in a Billing Cycle.

POINTS TO NOTE:-

A.      After Privatisation MINIMUM CHARGE was changed to FIXED CHARGE

B.      Consumers have deposited Security Deposit of Rs. 600 per KW of Sanctioned Load

C.      Power Bills clearly mention Sanctioned Load and MDI (Maximum Load Indicator)

D.      The Meters and Wiring for Loads ranging from 1 KW to 5 KW and from 6 KW to 13 KW are same irrespective of Sanctioned Load.

CONSUMERS DEMAND:-

FIX CHARGE SHOULD BE LEVIED ON MDI in the Billing Cycle and not SANCTIONED LOAD as DISCOMS have already collected Millions as Security Deposit for the Sanctioned Load.

It is to be noted that before privatization DVB used to charge a Minimum Charge which got adjusted once the consumption exceeded the Minimum Charge. This minimum charge was introduced because in earlier times consumers used to keep their houses locked for years as an investment, where as DVB was made to invest in a connection without corresponding returns.

THE RATIONALE:-

Fixed Charge on Sanctioned Load is discriminatory to consumers as majority of them use Full Load for not more than 100 days in a year during Peak Summers and Winters and for the rest of the year the Load used is barely 25% of Sanctioned Load. For Example a Consumer with 6 KW Sanctioned Load has to pay Rs. 120/- plus taxes per month, if the MDI for the month of February comes to 2 KW then he should pay only Rs. 40/-  plus taxes. THE CONSUMER ENDS UP PAYING an additional Rs.80/- per month, therefore giving DISCOMS windfall revenue, as there are 43 Lakh consumers.

Hope you find the above of some use to reduce the sufferings of Delhi Consumers. We offer all support in the Delhi Governments efforts for giving relief to the masses. Our request Dated 19-11-2015 for investigation into Fast Running Meters due to Residual Back Flow is still pending.

Warm Regards,

Rajiv Kakria

Random check of Mobile Towers !

Sometime ago we did a random check of the mobile towers in our area with two 'NARDA' machines for a day, along with two teams, to work on that. We started moving our car randomly, to find the towers with maximum carriers and the two teams followed us. We checked various towers but the outcome was nil, as all the towers ranked within the range, may be due to the fixing of outcome. The video recording of that event is being shared below :

In continuation of our efforts, a day ago, we invited a top official team, for a random check at few locations. This time these were the officials from a top rated Govt department, doing the random checking of mobile towers in our area. Though they were not allowed to share with us their findings, we could easily understand the status of the Tower checked in front of us.  

Though i can not share the outcome figures on this public platform, but yes, it was high, the tower was emitting radiation. The peak was much above the prescribed limit. We have requested the team to visit us again with more sophisticated equipment for random checking at various locations. Hopefully, they will revert to us in a day or two. We will share the findings with you very soon.

With best regards,

B S Vohra
www.RWABhagidari.com