Quantitative assessment and mitigation measures of air pollution from crematoria in NCT of Delhi.

The modernization of crematoria and replacement of existing fuel requirements for better air quality is a key challenge in view of the associated religious beliefs in India where conventional open pyre funeral practices are followed. Unlike developed nations, the lack of appropriate site selection criteria, combustion efficient crematorium oven designs, and pollution control devices at these facilities necessitates formulation of appropriate policy measures to reduce emissions. The existing practices do not address such localized sources that affects the micro air pollution patterns owing to their marginal contribution in the total air pollution load of the city.

Assessment of the effectiveness of policy interventions for Air Quality Control Regions in Delhi city.

Government has implemented various scattered and un-quantified control actions in Delhi city to reduce the air pollution levels; however, it still exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The present study has been designed to assess the air quality status, identify Air Quality Control Region (AQCR), and evaluate control strategies in the city. Out of eight selected locations, ambient PM, PM, and NO concentrations were found exceeding the daily as well as annual standards at selected AQCR with peak levels during post-monsoon than winter and summer.