Delhi’s air quality has recently taken a turn for the worse, sliding from being classified as ‘moderate’ to now being labeled as ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’. This report is based on findings from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
Causes of Deteriorating Air Quality
Typically, Delhi experiences its worst air quality during October-November, which gradually improves by March-April. The current weather conditions are not the main culprit, unlike during the winter when pollution tends to get trapped due to calm and cool weather, particularly in cities situated in the Indo Gangetic Plain.
The deterioration in air quality stems from increased fire counts, largely due to the burning of wheat crop stubble in northern India, in addition to local emissions. There are several key elements responsible for the alarming levels of pollution in Delhi, including:
1. The city’s landlocked geographical location.
2. Crop burning in neighboring states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
3. Vehicular emissions.
4. Industrial pollution.
5. Large-scale construction activities.
Concerns Regarding Air Quality
The degrading air quality is a cause for concern as the number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities continue to rise. According to the World Air Quality Report 2020, Delhi ranks as the 10th most polluted city worldwide and the most polluted capital city. However, there has been an approximately 15% improvement in Delhi’s air quality from 2019 to 2020.
A Greenpeace study conducted in July 2020 revealed that out of the 28 global cities examined, Delhi suffered the highest economic cost due to air pollution. In the first half of 2020 alone, despite a strict COVID-19 lockdown, an estimated 24,000 lives were lost due to air pollution.
Long-term exposure to outdoor and household (indoor) air pollution resulted in more than 1.67 million deaths in India during 2019, from conditions such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases, and neonatal diseases.
Measures Taken to Address the Issue
There have been several significant measures introduced to combat the issue of air pollution, including:
1. Providing subsidies to farmers to purchase Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) machines, which are mounted on tractors to cut and uproot stubble, reducing the need for stubble burning.
2. The introduction of BS-VI vehicles, promotion of electric vehicles (EVs), implementing the ‘odd-even’ alternative as an emergency measure, and the construction of the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways to mitigate vehicular pollution.
3. Implementations of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
4. Establishment of the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public information under the supervision of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
About SAFAR
SAFAR was launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) as a national initiative aimed at measuring the air quality of metropolitan cities. This system is developed indigenously by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and operationalized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The primary objective of SAFAR is to raise public awareness about the air quality in their city so that appropriate mitigation steps can be taken. It forms an integral part of India’s first Air Quality Early Warning System operational in Delhi.
The Way Forward
In contrast to paddy harvesting, the wheat season doesn’t lead to intense farm fires as wheat stubble is easier to manage and is usually processed into cattle feed by most farmers. Thus, Delhi should shift its focus to local emissions control measures for better air quality management.
The right to breathe clean air is fundamental for every Indian citizen. Therefore, prioritizing human health is indispensable in tackling air pollution.
