NEW DELHI: Delhi’s continuous air-quality monitoring network is expanding from 47 to 60 stations, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said in a ten-post explainer on X on Tuesday.
The October 6 thread says the expansion will add monitoring points and strengthen the availability of continuous observations across different parts of the capital.
Wider coverage of local pollution conditions
Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations, or CAAQMS, use automated systems to observe air quality at their locations. DPCC said a wider network can improve coverage across different locations and land-use areas, helping capture variations in pollution levels.
Station placement matters because the observations are location-specific. Distributing monitoring stations across different areas helps authorities assess spatial differences in air quality, the committee explained.
What the stations can monitor
Depending on a station’s configuration, monitored parameters can include PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia and benzene. The list does not mean every station measures every parameter.
Regular observations help track changing pollution conditions and build an evidence base for assessment. DPCC said the data supports understanding of pollution patterns and appropriate air-quality management measures.
Information for authorities and the public
The committee said continuous monitoring also contributes to timely public information about air quality at monitored locations. Its thread presents the move from 47 to 60 stations as a strengthening of Delhi’s monitoring framework.
