Last Updated: Nov 2024 (Air Pollution in Indian Cities)
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Air Pollution in Indian Cities
This article deals with ‘Air Pollution in Indian Cities – UPSC.’ This is part of our series on ‘Environment’ which is an important pillar of the GS-3 syllabus. For more articles on Environment, you can click here
Data about Air Pollution
- A study published in Lancet Journal says that polluted air is a cause of one in eight deaths in India and decreases average life expectancy in the country by 1.7 years.
- According to Lancet’s Study, air pollution is linked to type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
Timeline of Delhi Pollution
Reasons for the rise in Urban Pollution (Delhi in Particular)
1. Anthropogenic Causes
- Stubble Burning in Punjab & Haryana by farmers.
- An explosion of personal vehicles.
- Burning of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and gasoline for generation of electricity.
- Burning of garbage waste in open which releases toxins such as soot and carcinogens.
- Massive-scale construction work, leading to an increase in the concentration of PM 2.5 & PM 10.
2. Geographical Causes
- Westerlies: North India is under the influence of westerlies in winter, and these winds take pollutants of stubble burning to Delhi NCR.
- Due to the degradation of Aravallis, frequent dust storms from the Thar Desert have now started to reach New Delhi.
- Temperature Inversion creates a sort of blanket and doesn’t allow air to circulate in winter.
- Delhi is a continental city & situated on a ridge.
- Change in Weather Patterns: For example, a dip in La Nina caused the spike in Particulate Matter in coastal cities (including Mumbai).
3. Socio-Economic Factors
- Population Pressure: Delhi acts as an urban magnet due to the presence of job opportunities.
4. Faulty Policies / Governance Factors
- Fuel Subsidy on diesel has distorted people’s preference towards buying diesel cars, although Diesel cars emit 4 to 7X more pollutants.
5. Reasons for the exponential rise in pollution during winters
- Dip in Temperatures: Due to temperature inversion in the winters, the pollutants can’t disperse upwards, thus increasing the concentration of pollutants.
- Dip in Wind Speed: The winds blow at very moderate speeds during winters compared to summers. Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air and affect weather conditions, resulting in smog.
- Biomass burning in neighbouring States: Delhi is landlocked between its adjoining areas. Stubble burning in these states, especially in Punjab and Haryana, is considered a significant cause of environmental pollution.
- Combustion caused by Firecrackers may not be the top reason for the smog, but it contributes to its build-up.
Measures needed
1. Improve Public Transport
- A massive system of Public Transport needs to be built, including metros, BRTS and Public Buses.
- Last Mile Connectivity should also be improved.
2. Change in Tax Regime
- Congestion Tax should be introduced in the form of high parking rates. The city of London uses this method.
- Instead of a one-time registration tax for 15 years, Vehicle tax should be paid annually with registration fees increasing each passing year.
- Polluter Pays Principal: : Government should impose more tax on vehicles & factories with higher emission levels.
3. Governance Issues
- India should adopt yearly registration of vehicles instead of 15 years of registration.
- Government should educate people to use public transport. For example, Delhi Government’s Ab Bus Karein—let us take a bus Campaign.
4. Road Design innovations
- Car Pool Lane (CPL) / High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Facility: CPL formula reserves one lane, the fastest, for cars carrying more than one occupant.
5. Stubble Burning Management
- Explained in a separate article (click here)
6. Reform Pollution Control Boards
Following changes are required in Pollution Control Boards.
- There is a need for a larger cadre of scientists in the Central and State Pollution Control Boards and more monitoring equipment.
- Empower Pollution Control Boards to levy graduated fines depending on the seriousness or repeatability of the offence.
7. Other measures
- Install flue gas de-sulphurizers in all coal power plants.
- Reduce pollution from brick kilns: Kilns should be upgraded to cleaner technologies like Zig Zag kiln.
Initiatives already taken by the Government
1. Air Quality Index
- Explained in another article (CLICK HERE)
2. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
- It is applicable in Delhi only.
- A graded response lays down stratified actions that are required to be taken as and when the concentration of pollutants reaches a certain level.
3. Bharat Stage-VI norms from 2020
- Explained in another article (CLICK HERE)
4. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
- It is a statutory body for better coordination and finding solution to pollution problem in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
- Headed by Chairperson with at least 15 years’ experience in the field of environment and pollution or 25 years of administrative experience.
- Functions of CAQM
- Coordinate actions on monitoring of air quality.
- Planning and executing plans to prevent and control air pollution in NCR.
- Conduct research and development through networking with technical institutions.
5. National Clean Air Program (NCAP)
- It aims to achieve reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration of 40% by 2027 taking 2017 as the base year.
- Main provisions of the Program include
- 10-point action plan by Delhi government
- Stringent norms for coal-based power plant
- Technology upgradation in brick-kiln industry
6. Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressway
- The Peripheral Expressways have been built to divert the traffic destined for Delhi to bypass Delhi without entering the city.
7. Odd-Even Policy
- Under the policy, when pollution levels become alarming, Odd-numbered vehicles are allowed to run on odd dates and even-numbered vehicles on even dates.
- (BUT) Delhi is not the first city to introduce this system & earlier, Mexico city, along with many metropolitans, had introduced this but with bitter results. It is seen that these types of policies work well for a limited time but gradually, people lose their enthusiasm and find loopholes to avoid this.
8. Tree Sapling
- After Supreme Courts’ order, New Delhi will get a tree wall of 31 lakh saplings of specialized trees like pipal, mahua, etc., to get rid of dust storms from its western neighbours due to western disturbances.
9. Other Steps
- Use of coal in the NCR region has been banned.
- BS-III petrol vehicles and BS-IV diesel vehicles are banned in Delhi-NCR.
- The Supreme Court of India has banned the sale of crackers (except ‘green crackers’).
- Ban on the use of pet coke and furnace oil in NCR
- Shifting of brick kilns in Delhi- NCR to zig-zag technology (zigzagging the air flow in brick kilns) for reduction of pollution.
Examples from other cities
1. Mexico City: Project Via Verde
- Following the alarming levels of Pollution in 2016, Mexico city undertook the initiative of turning its 1000 plus columns supporting flyovers and elevated roads into ‘vertical gardens’.
2. Paris
- In Paris, a Helium balloon hovers over the skyline and changes colour depending on pollution levels.