NEW DELHI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Delhi-based think tank on environment, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), will undertake a real-time study to identify the factors leading to alarming levels of air pollution in Delhi.

The study aims to find out the exact composition of pollutants and will be carried out in Delhi and the surrounding areas, also called as the National Capital Region (NCR) that comprises of adjoining cities/towns like Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonepat, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, that actually are a part of the neighbouring states.

English daily The Times of India quoted CSE's Head of the Air Pollution and Clean Transportation Programme Anumita Roychowdhury as saying that multiple places in the NCR would be identified and the CSE will collect samples and the results of air pollution levels will be available instantly.

"We will then analyze the data and it will benefit in local area mapping. The current thrust is also on local area action as the authorities are also taking measures," she reportedly added.

Meanwhile, besides the CSE, a couple of other organizations like the Washington University (St. Louise) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, in northern state of Uttar Pradesh, are also in talks with the Delhi government to undertake similar studies to fight out Delhi's deadly air pollution.

Air pollution remains one of the biggest challenges confronting Delhi. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, over the past 24 hours the overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was 399, which falls in the "very poor" category and remains just two points below "severe."