Metrological Dept Steps In To Check Pollution

During 2010 Games, Real Time Data Will Help Improve Air Quality

In my opinion the metrological department is the worst department in the central government, breeding on the money of loyal taxpayers. There are lots of examples which every Indian knows very well. When they predict of drought, there occurs flood and vice versa.

When they predict of sunny day there comes the rain. They always blame to the inaccurate instruments they have and the Adam era technology they are following but in my opinion they are all jerks and need to be terminated from employment.

Doesn’t matter, what Met department has to say about 2010 commonwealth games , that makes the news ……… So read on...

By the end of next year, Delhi will have its own air quality monitoring model that will be able to predict pollution levels on a particular day based on meteorological conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is in talks with the environment ministry to set up such a model for the Capital before the 2010 Commonwealth Games so that the city will be able to take suitable measures to mitigate pollution levels as and when required.

On the eve of World Meteorological Day being celebrated on Monday, director general of IMD, Ajit Tyagi said that this was part of IMD’s larger plan for modernization of metro cities of which Delhi was its first target.

‘‘We have Rs 900 crore project planned for upgrade and modernization of the Met department under which there is a special plan for metros. By next year, the NCR will 60 automatic weather stations that will not only forecast but also give real time data that will be able on GIS maps. This is going to be a Delhi-specific forecast. It will also be used during the Commonwealth Games for weather support as we will be recording heat stress factor, wind and weather changes in a three-hour forecast for specific locations like various stadiums,’’ he said.

A preliminary version of the air quality forecasting model will be ready with the department by next year. Based on pollution data and weather predictions, the environment department will be able to assess the pollution levels on a particular day.

‘‘Pollution levels on a day depend on meteorological conditions like wind and precipitation. If we can make that available to the environment department, they can, along with the knowledge of the sources of pollution, take steps to ensure that levels stay under control,’’ explained Tyagi.

This year’s theme for the World Meteorological Day, quite pertinent for the Indian context especially, is ‘weather, climate and the air we breathe’.

According to the Met department, Delhi saw a steady increase in number of fog days till 2000 and a slight decrease thereafter. Dust acts like a nucleus for fog formation and higher levels of pollution due to increase in number of vehicles and construction activity led to the number of fog days rising in 2008.

This was a local phenomenon since such an effect was not seen at other places. ‘‘The decrease probably happened due to the introduction of CNG. However, in 2008 the Palam area witnessed larger number of fog days. This did not have so much to do with vehicular pollution as with dust due to large scale construction taking place around the airport,’’ said Tyagi.

IMD director general Ajit Tyagi says climate data will play a key role in predicting pollution