Lesson for everyone from Delhi

 

Lesson for everyone from Delhi’s AQI!

The capital city of our country is in the helm of severe air pollution for the past couple of days. In recent years, Delhi’s winter season has been the most vulnerable to bear with rising Particulate Matters (especially PM 2.5 and PM10). The governments of central and the National Capital Region takes numerous measures to mitigate the rising pollution levels. Even the supreme court have stepped in and given directions for the government to act. It is alarming to note that the parameters of Air Quality Index were 26 times more than the World Health Organisation's permitted level.

What is PM? How severe it is?

Particulate Matters are literally known to be the mixture of dust particles and moisture present in the air. Dust particles emitted from the various construction sites, vehicules, burning of wood and agricultural products and others. These particles vary in size. In the abbreviation PM 2.5, 2.5 denotes the diameter of the particle which here refers to 2.5 micrometer. These particulate matters which stay in the atmosphere reduces the visibility, increases the warming of the earth by not letting the heat to pass on to the atmosphere which consequently warms the earth. This has various health effects which may cause respiratory illness even to the healthy individuals. The amount of PM 2.5 recorded for the past couple of days is exceeding the 500 which is the upper limit of all the sensors installed in the city.

What is AQI? Who supervises AQI?

The Air Quality Index is an Index that brings out the levels of various pollutants in the air. The range of AQI varies between 0 to 500. The Central Pollution Control Board is responsible for calculating this AQI. Commission for Air Quality Management is the body responsible for looking after Delhi’s air quality.

What is the reason behind Delhi’s smog blanket?

As reported, Stubble burning in the nearby states of National Capital Region (NCR) such as Punjab, Haryana is the major reason behind this concern. Rising vehicular emissions, large and wide construction activities both by the government and private individuals, Uncontrolled population density are major contributors to the current scenario.

Why only Delhi?

Though nearby states too experience pollution, Delhi is the most affected city. This is because of the geographical location of the Delhi. Delhi is low-lying region compared to its neighbours. The Punjab, Haryana and the Uttar Pradesh are located at the higher levels as they are in proximity to hilly terrains, The Himalayas in particular. Delhi experiences funneling-in effect and acts as ‘Sink’ for all the residues that comes out of burning of crop remains and other activities in the neighboring states.

Due to the geographical phenomena of ‘Temperature Inversion’, The cold air gets in to the lower layer of atmosphere in the winter season. This cold air when it captures the Particulate matters from the smokes, construction sites, vehicular emissions, hold on to them. This cold air doesn’t let the pollutants of smaller and minute size to fly away which results in smog formation. Cumulative effects of this process ultimately result in rise of pollutant level in the atmosphere that covers the NCR. The pollutants in the air again have the consequences in every aspect of the life.

What Governments do and can do?

Governments of both centre and NCR takes numerous steps to curb this rising issue. Regulating the vehicular flow, shifting to work from home and online classes, allowing e-vehicles to commute in and out of the city, promoting usage of public transportation, holding all construction activities until further notice, are various action plans both the governments chalked out and are being implemented. These action plans were cumulatively referred to as Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Looking after and implementing all the necessary steps during the period of concern cannot solve this issue. All these steps taken at the time of disaster, can only mitigate the effects of disaster. They are just responsive actions. In order to take some preventive actions, Environmental Scientists and Government stake holders of all the nearby states should come to a common forum to discuss deliberately on this issue.

Government can consider subsidizing those farmers who handover the stubbles (Paddy and Wheat straw) to the government or private individuals who could develop business models from that.

The stubbles can be used to manufacture eco-friendly products that could be useful in house hold chores.

Possibilities of retreating and reusing of this crop residues in the large materials consuming industries such as construction, recreational parks, can be studied and explored. Government can announce the large stipends and other benefits for the scholars who pursue their R&D in this specific study which would motivate many scholars to develop realistic and holistic interest in finding the solution.

Farmers can be given subsidies to buy the crushers and tractors so that the residues can be crushed on farm site and ploughed in the soil which may improve the fertility of the soil. Though this is in practice in some parts of Punjab, this should widely be promoted.

Indian Green Building Council should work on promoting energy efficient green buildings in NCR. Government of NCR can take some policy measures in order to promote green buildings in the limits of NCR.

 Even some of small positive behavioral change among individuals can have huge impact on the environment. Anything can be rebuilt, not the nature!