The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, or EPCA, declared a public health emergency due to high pollution levels in New Delhi which reached the severe plus category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) confirmed that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) score exceeded 500, placing it in this serious category.
Factors Contributing to Poor Air Quality
The state of air quality deterioration is not produced by single factor, but a mix of several concurrent issues. Local pollution caused by vehicular and industrial emissions adds to the problem. A significant spike was also seen due to the bursting of crackers during Deepavali. Furthermore, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana states contributed significantly to pollution; CPCB claims that up to 45% of the pollution can be attributed to stubble burning, resulting in a high concentration of particulate matter.
Northwesterly winds add to the detrimental effects by bringing large volumes of smoke from Punjab and Haryana to the Delhi-NCR region. The pollution has resulted in various health symptoms, including throat and eye irritation, dry skin, skin allergies, chronic cough and difficulty in breathing.
Government Measures Against Air Pollution
In response to the worsening air quality, the government has incrementally implemented measures to mitigate pollution. One such initiative is the odd-even vehicle scheme, where vehicles with odd last digit registration numbers operate on odd days, and even last digits on even days.
Furthermore, the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) is imposed at toll plazas, a Supreme Court-directed green tax aimed at controlling activities that negatively affect the environment. Distribution of N95 masks, which protect from hazardous pollutants like PM 2.5, have been provided to the public. Schools have been closed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) until the air quality improves.
| Intervention | Description |
|---|---|
| Odd-even scheme | Vehicles with odd last digit in the registration number will ply on odd days and those with even last digit on even days |
| ECC (Environment Compensation Charge) | A Supreme Court directed green tax imposed at toll plazas |
| Distribution of N95 mask | A safety device that covers the nose and mouth, protecting from hazardous pollutants like PM 2.5 |
| GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) | An emergency plan to shut down schools till air quality improves |
About Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority and Central Pollution Control Board
The EPCA, constituted under section 3 of the Environment Protection Act of 1986 for the National Capital Region, has been granted powers to implement all necessary measures for pollution control. This includes controlling vehicular pollution, ensuring fuel quality standards are adhered to, monitoring and coordinating action for traffic planning and management.
On the other hand, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, established in 1974 under the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act. The CPCB holds powers and functions under the Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act of 1981.