Pollution in Delhi

Globally, rapid economic and social development has resulted in severe air pollution that kills around 7 million people every year, and India is home to 14 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities.

The case of Delhi

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the World. The city has topped global rankings several times when it comes to air pollution. The uniqueness of Delhi lies in the fact that the level of air pollution is increasing year after year even when almost every major institution in the country have taken note of this issue and put in some sort of effort to make Delhi “ pollution free”.

Let’s take a look on the various efforts of different agencies and institutions to control pollution in Delhi and NCR.

1.Supreme Court:

• In 2000, gave orders to convert the whole bus fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation from Diesel to CNG.
• Elimination of lead from petrol in Delhi.
• Giving orders to Union Government for coming up with Graded Action Plan to control pollution.
• Last year SC banned the use of firecrackers in Delhi, even on festival of DIwali.
• This year SC ordered to impound vehicles in the capital which are more than 10 years old.
• SC restricted burning of firecrackers to only two hours on Diwali celebration.

2. Union Government:

• Enactment of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to curb pollution.
• Launching system of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR). It gives out real-time air quality index on 24x7 basis with colour coding alongwith 72-hour advance forecast. The system, first of its kind in the country, was developed indigenously in record time by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and operationalized by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Launch of National Air quality Index to monitor quality of air by measuring pollutants like CO, PM 2.5, PM 10, NO2,NH3, SO2, O3.
• Union Environment Ministry notified a ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ against air pollution for Delhi and the National Capital Region.
• The Delhi specific comprehensive action plan was prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi was launched in Delhi, The System is designed to predict extreme air pollution events and give alerts to take necessary steps as per Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Government of India.

3. Delhi Government:

• Even Odd scheme for vehicles was implemented twice.
• At the time of critical level of pollution, the construction activities in Delhi have been stopped.
• Vacuum cleaning of roads have been started.

4. National Green Tribunal.

• National Green Tribunal Restricted Industrial Activities and Banned Waste Burning In Delhi.
• NGT banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years in Delhi.

However, even after all the above efforts, Delhi continues to grapple with rising air pollution levels. As air of “poor”, “very poor” and “severe” quality has dogged Delhi’s residents in 120 of 238 days this year.

One the major reasons of ineffectiveness is the multiplicity of the sources which contribute to the pollution in Delhi. So it is very important to discuss the sources of pollution in Delhi.

• Burning of fuel: it includes organic matter, fumes from factories and petroleum by cars, buses etc. Vehicles contributes approx 25% to air pollution in Delhi.
• Management of garbage: is unscientific in Delhi.Solid waste pile up in huge garbage dumps on periphery of Delhi. These garbage mountain very often starts burning which contributes to air pollution in Delhi.
• Meteorological Reasons: In winters Delhi witness inversion of air. Which means cold and heavy air remains at lower level of atmosphere creating anticyclonic conditions of stable but polluted air.
• Other Factors: this include seasonal rise in pollution due use firecrackers, burning of stubble in Haryana and Delhi etc. Apart from that construction activities in NCR region contributes to air pollution in Delhi by adding dust particles to air.

Thus, as there is no single reason for pollution in NCR and Delhi. Isolated steps by different agencies will not have any significant results on controlling air pollution in Delhi.Comprehensive measures are required, for dealing with this issue. Important suggested measures are discussed below:

• First of all, there should be dedicated budgeting for combating air pollution in Delhi and States within NCR. At present air pollution is not on the list of priorities on State Governments budget.
• Secondly, capacity building of Central pollution control board ( CPCB) and State pollution Control Board ( SPCB) is need of hour. So that implementation of Graded Action Plan and other such policies could be done effectively.
• Data Monitoring System of air quality needs to be updated so that Nano pollutants which directly accumulate in our blood capillaries can be monitored.
• Area specific plans should be drafted because there can be a case where problem of pollution of one area can be different from another area. Involvement of local bodies is essential for this.
• National clean air program (NCAP) must be implemented in letter and spirit. It is a medium term national level strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner. The overall objective is to augment and evolve effective ambient air quality monitoring network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
• Air pollution inspectors should be appointed to oversee the work of NCAP on the line of industrial inspectors.
• Finance commission should consider pollution control as a parameter while drafting formula for distribution of funds.
• Zero emission vehicles as suggested by Niti Aayog should be transformed into reality as earliest.National Electric Mobility Mission Plan is good initiative which needs implementation.

In the end people needs to become partners in fighting pollution. They must be encouraged to prefer walking wherever possible, disposing waste in sustainable manner, using gadgets only when it is necessary. Most importantly we need to ask ourselves “ are my actions responsible for pollution around me”.

By: Atul Sambharia