NLCHAWLA

                 

                          AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI/NCR

We, the residents of  Delhi/NCR,  are   experiencing deterioration  in the air quality  on day to day basis. It is a burning and serious health issue. Day in  and day out news in print as well as electronic media , concern expressed by  State & Central Govts and  observations of Judiciary, prompted me   to collate necessary information on the  issue  and briefly put in the blog.

2.World Health Organization (WHO), has defined  air pollution  as " the contamination of indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical and biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere." In common parlance,   air pollution consists of  chemicals and particles in air that harm the health of humans, animals and plants. 

 Now, if we refer to the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 ,  Air  Pollution  is defined u/s 2(b) as  "the presence of any air pollutant in the atmosphere". While, pollutant under section 2(a) is  explained as "any solid, liquid or gaseous substance that my be harming or injuring the environment, human and other living creatures, plant or even property".

3. Having understood basic concept of air pollution, obviously, the next step is  to talk  and discuss about   details of such  major pollutants. These pollutants can be classified mainly in two  categories as under:

A. Primary air pollutants: 

These are  pollutants that are formed and emitted directly from particular sources. Particulates, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide, and Sulphur Dioxide fall within the category of primary pollutants. 

         (i) Carbon Monoxide ( CO) :.

CO is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas which is  highly toxic and dangerous when inhaled in large amounts. One of the   major sources of CO are cars, trucks and other vehicles that burn fossil fuels such as  gasoline, coal ,oil and  diesel.  

(ii) Sulphur dioxide (SO2):

It is  colorless and poisonous gas with pungent smell. Major source for emission of sulpher dioxide are power plants that burns fossil fuels containing sulpher. This apart,  industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore using fossil fuel are other sources of emission of the gas.

          (iii) Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)

Production of these gases is a  result of  reaction of nitrogen and oxygen during combustion of fuels such as Hydrocarbons at very high temperature. For instance combustion of fuel in Car Engine. In fact, motor vehicles are  significant source of  NOx in  metro cities. These gases  are also produced naturally by lightning.

          (iv) Particulate Matters (PMs) 

In lay man terms  Particulate air pollution  is anything solid or liquid suspended in air such as smoke fumes, soot and other combustion by products. It also include  particles such as windblown dust, sea salt, pollen and spores. The particulate matters are often categorized based upon their size, described below:  

(a) PM2.5 is a particulate matter that has diameter of less than 2.5 micrometer.  Just imagine, its  diameter is about 3% of the diameter of human hair.

         (b) PM 10  is a inhalable particulate  matter with diameter generally less than 10                    micrometer and smaller.

        B. Secondary  air pollutants: 

Such pollutants are formed in the atmosphere by chemical reactions. Ozone and organic aerosol  are the examples of secondary air pollutants. 

          i) Ozone (O3):

 It is formed when hydrocarbon (HC) and Nitrogen oxides(NOx) combine in the presence of sunlight.  When up high in the atmosphere, the Ozone layer protects us from the harmful radiations of the Sun.  However, when it is formed just above the ground surface it is more harmful to organisms including humans and thus is known as the "bad" Ozone. Also known as  ground -level Ozone. This harmful pollutant is even more dangerous when it mixes with fog during winter months, thus forming  main ingredient in "smog"

        ii) Organic Aerosol:

An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or          another gas. A large fraction of aerosol are organic ( i.e. contain carbon ). Fog/mist ,dust and geyser steam are  examples of natural aerosols.

4. Having discussed basic nature and characteristics of  air pollutants, it will not be out of place  to briefly  dwell upon  different sources of Air Pollution in Delhi /NCR, though  public at large  may be   aware of the causes.

i) Motor Vehicle Emissions ( Transport) 

 These are the major causes of poor quality of air in Delhi. In fact PM2.5 coupled with contribution of Nitrogen Oxide and Carbon Monoxide increases the toxicity of the air. 

ii) Construction

 Construction activities in and around Delhi is another significant factor that accounts for deterioration in air quality. In fact, fine dust from construction activities  mixed with NOx adds to the poisonous mixture called 'smog'.

        (iii) Industrial Pollution

  Industries, specifically small scale units,  contribute  substantially towards making the air toxic in NCR . Assessment made by the Central  Pollution Control Board ,the national capital is home  to and   surrounded by highly pollutive industrial clusters that do not meet  limits on air, water and soil emissions.

(iv) Crop Burning

 Burning of farm residues , popularly called Parali (पराली) , at large scale  also affects  the purity of air. Window of about 10-15 days between  paddy harvesting  and sowing  of wheat perforces the farmers of neighboring states such as Punjab, Haryana and Western UP to burn the stubble so as  to prepare the fields for sowing wheat, in time.

          (v) Burning at Landfill Sites

 Delhi has primarily three giant landfill sites at Okhla, Bhalswa and Gazipur.   These can be described  as Garbage mountains. Frequent  waste burning at these   landfills releases poisonous gases that increases toxicity in the air.

         (vi)  Coal based Thermal Power Plants in and around Delhi: Such thermal                        plants are other major source of air deteriorating quality in capital

 Apart from above key factors , host of other reasons such as Diwali fireworks, road dust, congested and cramped residential quarters around industrial clusters, smoke from household equipment's such as refrigerators and stoves and burning of garbage adds to the air pollution. Both primary as well as  secondary pollutants  together with  unfavorable climatic conditions -- low temperature and slow wind speed -- during winter season causes massive decrease in air quality in the region.

 5.National Air Quality Index (AQI):

For measurement of  level of air pollution  and risk associated with it, National Air Quality Index is used for the purpose. The AQI was launched in India on 17th September, 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Index is   composed of  8 pollutants that includes PM10, PM2.5, NO2 ( Nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (Sulphur dioxide), CO ( Carbon Monoxide),  O3(Ozone),  NH3(Ammonia) and Lead (Pb).  AQI  ranges are    broadly  divided into six categories. Details thereof  together with possible  risk associated against each category is  tabulated hereunder:

 

6. It is abundantly clear that AQ Index is a tool to compare air quality conditions at different locations on continuous basis. It helps to analyse variation in Air Quality (  improvement or degradation, as the case may be) over a period of time. It is especially useful for people suffering from illness  that aggravated or caused by air pollution.  Color coding provides an easy visual aid  for anyone to  understand  level of  deterioration in the air quality. The information allows a common man to take appropriate measures in order to  protect himself against air contamination. 

         7. Impact of air pollution on human health: 

Prolong exposure to toxic air , as we  all are aware, can lead to several health issues to different age groups people. As has been brought in the matrix above,  breathing discomforts and respiratory illness are common health impacts among  people. Cases of breathlessness  and bronchitis have seen an up-tick in recent years.  Asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are diseases  common for the people who are exposed to hazardous level of pollution and can suffer from frequent fatal exacerbations. PM2.5 ( fine particles) for a long period has been lined with increase rate of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and increase mortality from lung cancer and heart disease. The very purpose  to list out harmful affects is not   to create panic but to make aware and educate  public about the adverse health effects  of filthy air we are inhaling and to  underline importance to contain the affects.

8. For reduction of  air pollution to acceptable level,  governments across the years have introduced various measures.  However, considering dire circumstances following steps/ measures  need to be  initiated /strengthened and magnified  in Delhi/NCR. In addition there is need to think of  more innovative ways to address the  issue  in hand .

         i) Control over Vehicular Emissions:

•  Plying of 10-year-old diesel vehicles and  15-year- old petrol vehicles in Delhi  should not be permitted . The Transport Authorities   to ensure compliance of such instructions/orders by way of  persuasion , incentives or if need be de-registration or impounding  of such vehicles.

• It is mandatory in Delhi /NCR for motor vehicle owners  to carry Pollution Under Check( PUC) certificate so that emission from  the vehicle is in compliance with the  pollution control standards. One way to ensure against the violation of rule, I am of the opinion that Retail Outlets, prior to   filling up the tank with gasoline,  to check and confirm the  validity of  PUC.

• Use of an alternate fuel in place of petrol/diesel is to be encouraged.  E-mobility which is already there, though at a limited scale, is an important example of alternate  source of energy. At present, though EV market penetration is quite low, the GOI is working on it and has set an ambitious target to improve E-mobility substantially by 2030. The move would certainly contribute to combat  toxic air pollution. 

•  It is heartening that our Government has advanced the target for 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol ( E-20) to 2025 from 2030. Currently, 8.5% of ethanol is blended in petrol. Blending of ethanol with gasoline reduces the emission of  toxic Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the air. 

        ii)   Regulate  dust and construction activities:

• No doubt that road dust is one of the major source of air pollution in Delhi/NCR. Mechanized road sweeping coupled with water sprinkling  on roads can be  carried out  on dust prone stretches. 
• At the same time ensuring pot-hole free roads may  help to contain the air pollution. Anti-smog guns to spray water can be  brought in to use to settle the dust. The step will clean and purify the air.
• This apart, dust from construction and demolition activities is  also the major polluter.  It contributes  heavily and adversely   PM2.5 and PM10 levels.  Guidelines and mitigation measures inter-alia erection of dust barrier sheets  around the construction site, covering sheets  on construction materials, proper and adequate covering of  vehicles carrying construction and demolition materials and proper disposal of waste  are not being strictly monitored and enforced. There is hardly any need to emphasize  that the concerned authorities to  ensure compliance  and implementation of such mitigation measures.

iii)  Proper management of Dump sites: 

       Initiation of urgent steps to fix the problem relating to Landfill sites.

(iv) Management of crop residue ( Parali):

It is a ticklish and sensitive  issue as it involves various State Governments.  It cannot be sorted out by  simply penalizing the farmers. Instead of  penal action, concerted efforts are needed by the concerned State Governments to provide some practical / alternative solution to take care of crop residue. A scientific solution coupled with financial assistance, if need be, made available to farmers to motivate them  against crop residue burning.  In this connection, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute has devised a radical solution for stubble burning in the form of a Bio Enzyme called PUSA. In Rural areas, educational and awareness campaigns against harmful effects of Parali burning can be undertaken through NGOs. I am sanguine that all such measures would have salutary effect and bound to lead substantial reduction in burning of crop residue.

(v) Preservation and plantation of Trees: 

• Trees have a great role to play in reduction of  air pollution.  From our school days, we have been taught that trees intake carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen in the atmosphere. Hence, all efforts are needed  for  their preservation and plantation. 

• Felling of  trees should be barest minimum while undertaking development projects. Green cover area may be increased where ever feasible. In fact, erecting vertical gardens on metro pillars will go a long way in purifying air. Here, it will not be out of place to mention that we, the resident of NCR , should grow indoor/outdoor  plants  as  effective air cleaners. 

• Indoor  plants such as Snake Plant, Spider Plant, Aloe Vera  and Pathos not only breathe out oxygen 24 hours but  a few of them help to remove toxin from air too. 

• Planation should be done carefully by sowing seeds and planting the saplings of native trees. There are various not-for-profit organizations working a various levels that are trying to increase green cover with the help of involvement of citizens.  

• Apart from planting trees, the immediate areas around already planted trees should have no concrete cover. It leads to strangling of roots  and eventually chocking trees. 

9. Air Pollution is a massive issue for Delhi as well as NCR as it  causes devastative impact  on  the  people's health. Particularly children, pregnant ladies and elderly  are most vulnerable. Hence, concerted efforts and focused attention by  Government to keep the environment clean are needed. It is common  that most of the measures  are taken by various authorities  only during the months when the air pollution is  already at its peak. Even the measures so taken are not adequate vis-à-vis  the magnitude of the problem. 

This ad-hoc and  half-hearted approach  needs to be replaced with a systematic  and long term plan to tackle the issue through out the year.  Air pollution doesn't happen over  night, it is a cumulative effect of pollutants emitted by various sources, their interaction in the atmosphere and weather conditions. We need to work on preventing it, as the saying goes, "prevention is better than cure".  

Necessary co-ordination and co-operation among Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and UP Governments under the Central Government leadership is must to effectively tackle the mammoth task.  

At the same time,  it would  not be  right  to simply look towards  to Governments  for the problem. Rather people participation and cooperation by  the community   is equally important  and crucial  to address the  serious issue.

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