Lungs Under Siege : Delhi and NCR’s Catastrophic Air Pollution

The earth’s atmosphere (air) contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide and water vapour (variable). Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of the substances in the atmosphere harmful to humans and living beings. It can be caused by human activities and natural phenomena both. Air quality is closely related to earth’s climate and ecosystem globally. There are many types of the pollutants including gases (Ammonia, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrous oxide, Methane, Chlorofluorocarbon, etc.), particulates (both organic and inorganic) and biological molecules. It can harm living organisms such as animals and crops, and may damage the natural environments including climate change, ozone depletion, habitat degradation etc. The causes of air pollution include burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), road traffic, improper waste disposal, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, burning of agricultural waste, dust, etc.

 Air pollution is directly associated with deadly diseases : it can cause serious health and environmental hazards for people and other living beings. Among the most concerning pollutants in the air are particles known as PM2.5 (particulate matter i.e., tiny particles of 2.5 microns in width or smaller) of the size of about one thirtieth the width of human hair, which can pass into our lungs and blood stream and increase the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, strokes and lung cancer, as well as health problems for pregnant women and their babies. During pregnancy, a woman’s body can store harmful chemicals from air, passing them to her baby during pregnancy and breast feeding. Air pollution can seriously affect the foetus resulting in miscarriage, early delivery and low birth weight. Children are at greater risk, as their developing lungs and brains make them vulnerable to air pollution. Their immune systems are weaker than adults, making them more susceptible to viruses, bacteria and other infections. Air pollution is linked to respiratory conditions such as pneumonia. It can exacerbate underlying health conditions and harm children’s physical and cognitive development. The symptoms of exposure to air pollution include dry eyes, headache, fatigue, allergies, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, wheezing, asthmatic attacks, etc. Air pollution costs the world economy USD 5 trillion per year as a result of productivity losses and degraded quality of life, as per World Bank Report in 2016. This does not include the adverse effect on agriculture.

Air Quality Index (AQI), an indicator of pollution level, is considered to be good (0 to 50), satisfactory (51 to 100), moderate (101 to 200), poor (201 to 300), severe (301 to 400) and hazardous beyond 400. In Delhi and NCR, from October to February, the AQI level is alarmingly high due to various factors including burning of effigies during Dusshera, bursting of fire crackers during Diwali, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, cold weather, excessive vehicular traffic on the roads, industries emitting smoke, construction and demolition of buildings, mountains of garbage and above all, total mismanagement on the part of the govt. As a result, Delhi has become a gas chamber, and CM Kejriwal is busy with election campaign in other states.

In 2019, the Supreme Court said on pollution in Delhi and NCR, "Delhi has become worse than hell". In November 2021, the apex court reprimanded the central and state govts. asking them to take strict measures to reduce pollution in Delhi and NCR. Delhi High Court on 3rd November, 2023, pulled up the city govt’s forest department over the felling of trees and remarked that their casual approach led to high AQI level. Several international and national legislations and regulations have been put in place to mitigate the negative effects of air pollution. Local rules, when properly executed, have resulted in significant advances in public health. Some of these efforts have been successful at the international level, such as Montreal Protocol which reduced the release of harmful ozone depleting chemicals. The Helsinki Protocol reduced the sulphur emission. During Covid 19 pandemic lockdown in India, the air quality significantly improved indicating that the air pollution is a result of faulty policies and practises.

The temporary solutions to solve this pollution problem include, asking the employees to work from home to reduce vehicles on the roads, using anti-smog gun spray, shutting down construction sites, even and odd registration numbers cars to be allowed on even and odd dates only, etc. However, a sustainable solution requires a comprehensive approach:
 

1. Improve public transport, promote cycling infrastructure, incentivise electric vehicle adoption and establish charging facilities. Encourage car-pooling and ride sharing. Enforce stricter emission norms and support the adoption of cleaner technology. Phasing out of diesel and petrol vehicles in a planned way, and higher registration fee for new cars will also help reduce the pollution from vehicles.

2. Implement stringent emission control regulations on industries. Ensure a consistent power supply to reduce the reliance on diesel generators, thereby mitigating industrial pollution.

3. Encourage sustainable construction practices that minimize dust emissions during building projects. Utilizing water spray, covering sites and properly managing the waste will be helpful.

4. Focus on energy production and consumption, promoting energy efficient measures,  efficient appliances and renewable energy sources.

5. Incorporate green spaces, such as parks and gardens. Plants and trees act as natural air filters. Planting more trees will create a healthier environment.

6. Enforce a complete ban on fire crackers during all occasions.

7. Establish an efficient waste management system that includes recycling programmes, waste segregation, controlled waste disposal facilities, and a reduction in single use plastic. Delhi and NCR have many garbage mountains needing immediate attention of the govt.

8. Explore innovative solutions like the use of PUSA, a bio enzyme, developed by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, to address stubble burning by decomposing stubble into manure, improving soil quality.

9. Foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including govt. bodies, organizations, businesses and citizens.

10.Support ambitious initiatives such as 1400 km long and 5km wide 'The Great Green Wall of Aravalli', green ecological corridor along Aravalli range covering parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, planting 1.35 billion native trees and shrubs over ten years. This will be a milestone in combating the pollution.

11. Prioritize public awareness and education as key components of the fight against pollution while implementing the aforementioned policies and programmes.

Tackling air pollution is undoubtedly a formidable challenge, but it is not insurmountable. Addressing this issue collectively can lead to better air quality, ultimately benefitting both our health and economy.

By Manoj Dubey

Principal (Retd.), Delhi Public Schools

(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)