Government Air Quality Data Goes Missing Across Delhi Stations on Deepavali Night

Air quality data vanished from multiple government monitoring stations in Delhi at the peak of pollution following Deepavali night. Readings went blank for several hours on websites run by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Central Pollution Control Board. Missing PM2.5 numbers affected locations like Anand Vihar, Patparganj, and Bawana. PM2.5 refers to fine particles that enter the lungs and bloodstream and cause health issues. A similar data disappearance happened during Deepavali last year.

Expert View and Figures

Manoj Kumar, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, stated that 227 hourly PM2.5 observations were missing across 59 Central Pollution Control Board stations from midnight on November 8 until 5 a.m. on November 9. Only 14 stations reported complete data, while 45 stations had at least one missing hourly observation. Mr. Kumar warned that missing data artificially lowers the Air Quality Index and shows better air quality than what actually exists. Before data went blank in Patparganj, PM2.5 levels hit 2,597 micrograms per cubic meter at 1 a.m. on Monday, which is roughly 173 times the WHO limit. Anand Vihar recorded 1,396 micrograms per cubic meter at 3 a.m., about 93 times the WHO limit. Central Pollution Control Board data also appeared capped at 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter.

Political Reactions

Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra told reporters that the government would examine the issue within an hour and update the media. Both the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress criticized the government over the missing figures, with the Aam Aadmi Party calling it data fraud. Mr. Mishra responded by accusing the opposition of a conspiracy involving stubble burning in Punjab.

Context

Delhi experiences severe air pollution spikes every year around Deepavali due to a mix of firecracker smoke, local emissions, and seasonal stubble burning. Reliable public data is vital for citizens to take health precautions during these high-pollution spells. Government bodies manage networks of monitoring stations across the capital to track these daily environmental changes.