What is 'Supersite' launched by the CM of Delhi?

The Chief Minister of India on 30th January launched the Supersite and Mobile (AQM) Van for the Real-Time Source Appointment Study to combat the pollution problem in Delhi. The Environment Minister states that the launch of the supersite is one of the most important aspects of Delhi’s campaign to combat pollution. It will assist in determining the causes of the rise in air pollution at specific locations in Delhi. The launch of the initiative has made Delhi the first city to get real-time source segmentation of air pollution.

Read more: About R-AASMAN | Delhi Pollution Control Committee

The supersite is a source apportionment study that uses state-of-the-art techniques and instruments to track various sources of pollution to quantify the contribution of each source to the overall pollution. The new techniques can provide the chemical composition of PM_2.5 almost instantly, according to the DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee).

Read more; PM 2.5 Real-time Source Apportionment at Rouse Avenue(Supersite)

Initial phase and organizations involved 

The proposal for the identification of the sources of air pollution in Delhi with the aim to guide mitigation measures was presented by a team of scientists represented by Prof. Mukesh Sharma from IIT-Kanpur to the Chief Minister of Delhi in February 2021 for approval. And, it was approved by the Delhi Cabinet in July 2021.

The project is initiated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, and The Energy & Resource Institute(TERI). DPCC signed MoU with the organization on 20th October 2021 to develop a state-of-the-art stationary air quality monitoring station i.e. supersite with the goal of establishing a trustworthy air quality forecasting system with source apportionment for the upcoming few days for public distribution and an improvement in air quality. 

Read more: Delhi would become the first city to get real-time source segmentation of air pollution: Gopal Rai | Aam Aadmi Party

A team of scientists headed by IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Delhi, The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali was charged with setting up a real-time source apportionment and pollution forecasting system in Delhi.

Tackling Delhi’s air pollution

Delhi has been facing the worst case of air pollution in the past few years and is among the worst-polluted cities in the world. The particulate matter (PM) levels in Delhi have been way above safe with levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter hitting 999 mg per cubic meter while the safe limits for these are 60 and 100 respectively. Therefore, identifying the sources of air pollution is very important. The ‘Supersite’ will thus help understand the real-time effect of pollution sources like vehicles, dust, biomass burning, stubble burning, and smoke from factories. Based on the results the Delhi government and the organizations will be able to take suitable steps to reduce pollution. 

Read more: Real-time Source Apportionment Study | DDC_Delhi

As of 1st Feb 2023, the ‘Supersite’ has been revealed that 30-54% of the PM_2.5 levels are due to secondary inorganic aerosols from sources that include power plants, refineries, brick kilns, vehicles, industry, agriculture, organic waste decomposition, and open drains. And 12-24% are from off & road vehicles, petrol, diesel, CNG powered vehicles, and diesel generator sets.

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