The Delhi Government has recently launched a substantial anti-pollution campaign, Yuddh Pradushan Ke Viruddh, to address the poor air quality in Delhi, especially exacerbated in winter. This campaign encapsulates a tree transplantation policy, the erection of a smog tower, promotion of Electric vehicles, and prevention of stubble burning.
Tree Transplantation Policy
Tree transplantation is a procedure involving the removal of a tree from its current location and its replanting elsewhere. As part of the policy, at least 80% of trees impacted by any developmental projects will be transplanted. Furthermore, the survival of minimum 80% of the transplanted trees will be ensured by the agencies obtaining official permission for the process. This policy will supplement the existing initiative of planting ten saplings for every tree that is cut down. A dedicated Tree Transplantation Cell along with a panel of expert agencies in transplantation will also be established by the government.
Bearing Benefits and Facing Limitations
Apart from preserving older trees that have symbolic or heritage value, transplanting trees also helps to reduce the adverse environmental effects of cutting existing trees. However, the current success rate of transplantation is around 50%, depending on factors like soil type. Moreover, the process proves costly, with the average transplantation cost being about Rs 1 lakh per tree.
The Smog Tower Initiative
Another component of the campaign is the construction of a smog tower in Delhi to help mitigate the persistent smog issue, as per the November 2019 order of the Supreme Court. The towers, designed to suck up polluted air and release clean air, are a project undertaken in collaboration with the IITs at Mumbai and Delhi, along with the University of Minnesota.
Successes and Setbacks of the Smog Tower
Similar smog towers have been attempted in cities like the Netherlands, China, South Korea, and Poland. However, due to the inefficiency of smog towers in achieving significant air purification outdoors, and a lack of supporting data on their effectiveness, many experts express skepticism. Additionally, the high cost of construction poses another challenge, with each tower costing around 20 crore rupees.
Promoting Electric Vehicles
Aiming for electric vehicles to represent a quarter of registered vehicles in Delhi by 2024, the government is incentivising their purchase, offering benefits such as discounted interest rates on loans, waivers on road taxes, and scrappage incentives for older vehicles. The Electric Vehicles Policy 2020 emphasizes replacing two-wheelers, public transport, shared vehicles, and goods-carriers with electric vehicles.
Addressing Air Pollution in Delhi
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Delhi figures among the world’s most polluted cities, with particulate matter levels regularly exceeding both national standards and the even stricter WHO limits. A reduction of 65% is necessary for Delhi to meet the national standards for PM2.5 (fine particulate air pollution). The city’s air also contains high levels of harmful sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Compounding this problem is the lack of wind which causes pollutants to concentrate.
Sources of Air Pollution
The contributors to Delhi’s air pollution include vehicular emissions, dust, and industrial activity. As per a research paper published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in October 2018, vehicular emissions account for almost 41% of the pollution, followed by dust at 21.5% and industries at 18%. Furthermore, emission testing of vehicles stands at just 25%. Notably, India has the world’s highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma, largely attributable to air pollution.
Depicting Deteriorating Air Quality of Delhi
Several factors account for the declining air quality in Delhi, including stubble burning, vehicular emissions, weather conditions, high population density, lack of infrastructure, construction activity, open waste burning, operation of thermal power plants and industries, use of firecrackers, diesel generators, and dust storms from Gulf countries.
Way Forward
To improve Delhi’s air quality in the long term, a three-pronged action plan has been proposed. This comprises implementing emissions standards, promoting public transport, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles. Additionally, technical solutions need the cooperation of Central, State, and local governments, engaged citizens, and media to spread awareness about pollution and its health impacts. The urgency of controlling air pollution has intensified as respiratory ailments caused by pollution can exacerbate the condition of Covid-19 affected individuals.