Car-Free Day Gets Mixed Reaction From Environmental Groups

New Delhi: The city's first car-free day received a mixed reaction from environmental groups with Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claiming that a huge drop was seen in the pollution level due to the drive even as Greenpeace India termed it as a "symbolic initiative".

"CSE has found dramatic reduction in the exposure levels to particulate pollution on the stretch from Red Fort to India Gate during the car-free day. Pollution levels were 60 per cent lower than the levels observed in the same place, at the same time, yesterday," CSE said in a release.

This observed reduction is further supported by the city-wide official ambient monitoring done by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the release said, adding, an overall drop of 45 per cent in PM2.5 level was witnessed.

The car-free initiative as well as the low-traffic load on the national holiday of Dussehra has helped lower the pollution levels and toxic exposure in the city, it said.

The initiative was organised today on the stretch of road between the historic Red Fort and India Gate from 7 am to 12 pm and saw the participation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, cabinet ministers, MLAs and other government officers.

"This initiative of the Delhi government has only helped to prove how the growing car numbers in Delhi aggravate toxic pollution; if these numbers are controlled, pollution can be lowered significantly," CSE Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) Anumita Roychowdhury said.

Though this event has been planned for one road stretch a day every month to help build public awareness, this will need simultaneous action to restrain car usage on a daily basis for the real change, he said.

Greenpeace India also carried out air-quality monitoring survey between Red Fort and India Gate, both today and yesterday to assess the impact. Monitoring was done for four hours each day. The pre- event day data showed that the pollution in Delhi seven times higher than National Ambient Air Quality Standard and 16 times higher than the WHO standards, a Greenpeace statement said.

While today's data showed that the pollution in the city was three times higher than NAQS and seven times higher than WHO standards, it said.

"It should also be noted that the air quality monitoring station closest to the car-free zone was not even providing data on PM2.5 and PM10 making it difficult to understand the impact of such initiatives, thereby making it a symbolic initiative at best," Greenpeace India said.