Delhi’s Air Quality Better Than Mumbai’s In the Last Two Weeks

A study conducted between 27 February 2017 and 13 March 2017 assessed the air quality in the two cities.

A file photo of pollution on the roads of Delhi. (Photo: AP)

Delhi has been topping WHO’s list of the world’s most polluted megacities, earning it global notoriety. So, it comes as a surprise that in the last two weeks, Mumbai witnessed far higher air pollution levels than the national capital.

For over two weeks, Delhi did not witness a single high pollution day. In Mumbai, on the other hand, pollution levels were way above the permissible limits, according to a study by the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

What’s important is that this change is not because of increased pollution in Mumbai, but thanks to a considerable improvement in Delhi’s air quality, scientists said.

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The study, conducted between 27 February 2017 and 13 March 2017, assessed the air quality in the two cities as well as in Pune. Mumbai had 20% ‘very poor’ air days, while Delhi and Pune had none. In fact, Mumbai saw only 13% ‘satisfactory’ air quality days. Delhi and Pune had 40% and 47% respectively.

Speaking with Hindustan Times, SAFAR Director Gufran Beig said that a landlocked city like Delhi is usually more prone to pollutants getting trapped closer to the surface due to unfavourable weather conditions. But recently, high-speed winds and intermittent rain helped clean up the city’s air.

Mumbai has the advantage of having a sea breeze, but that did not play a crucial role in dispersing pollutants as wind speed was less during most days between February and March.

Gufran Beig, SAFAR Director