Gone are the days when Delhi was the greenest capital of the world and pride for the nation. People are now scared to stay in the capital during winter and look for other avenues to spend some time away from the poisonous environment here.
Have you ever heard anyone saying – Air quality of Delhi deteriorates more in the winter season? Well, the observation is not baseless in any sense as it has a scientific explanation as well as long-drawn statistics made by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW).
The concept of “Temperature inversion” and the many factors responsible for the high pollution rate in Delhi plays an important role in making Delhi’s atmosphere worse during winter. However, before moving towards the reasons, here are some statistical observations made on Delhi in recent years.
1. According to the latest data released by the World Air Quality Index, Gurugram, a major satellite city of the Delhi region, scored maximum in Asia’s worst air quality list
2. Around 30.2 million people are living in Delhi as per the 2020 census and the total area available for this many people is hardly 1484km2. The high population density is another reason for high levels of pollution. More citizens in the respective place mean more means of transport that continuously emit high levels of hazardous gases which are not only harmful to the environment but also human health.
3. The current Air Quality Index of Delhi is 246 with PM 2.5 as its main pollutant. The concentration of PM 2.5 in Delhi is recorded at 196 ug/m3 which is 39.2 times the WHO annual air quality Index.
The above stats depict the adverse environmental conditions of Delhi. However, the environmental condition of the city was not always this poor. Air pollution in Delhi spiked in the 2016 winter when PM2.5 and PM10 hit 999 micrograms per cubic meter. While the normal levels should not be more than 60 and 100 for PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. After 2016, the air pollution parameters remained consistently around 200 which itself was a case of high pollution levels. The next question that strikes our mind is- “What led to this sudden surge in the pollution levels of Delhi?”.and What steps can be taken to improve this existing condition?
Factors behind air pollution increase in Delhi
1. Increase in the number of vehicles in the city– If we break down the pollution percentage value of Delhi, we would find vehicles in Delhi contribute more than half of all resources. This is because the huge population of Delhi with the majority of them traveling by personal means of transport contributes largely to air pollution.
Not to forget, the effect of winter inversion in combination with industrial emission and vehicular emissions makes the condition even worse during the cold weather
2. Opening of new thermal power stations- Badarpur thermal power station is also another source of pollution in Delhi. Surprising to know that the power station responsible for hardly 8 percent of the city’s electricity produces 90 percent particulate matter from its electric power sector in Delhi.
Additionally, a study conducted by IIT Kanpur proves that thermal power stations are in the second position when it comes to the spreading of air pollution in the respective city. And the main reason behind it is using outdated technology in thermal power plants. As an effect, the Delhi government has filed a petition in the Supreme court for closing down of such thermal power plants
3. Illegal industrial activities in Delhi- Opening more industries in Delhi increased the chances of air pollution. The Delhi government imposed a limit on the number of industrial openings in the city. However, one can witness many illegal industrial activities that became a big reason behind the miserable condition of the city.
Be it the burning of diesel, petrol, biomass, waste, and resuspended dust, one can witness these activities in excess. This industrial process emits a high amount of organic compounds like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and chemicals into the air and hence became a major reason behind respiratory problems in humans.
4. Other minor yet important factors– Other small yet major contributors in combination are- household pollution(12.5- 13.5%), Industry(9.9 to 13.7 percent), Construction(6.7 to 7.9%), Waste(4.6 to 4.9percent), and road development(3.6to 4.1percent). These pollution contributors may seem like a small number but when combined it gives a whopping sum of 40 to 50 percent and hence these demand rectification equally.
Steps taken to improve the existing condition:
a) Installing Pusa bio decomposer– Pusa Bio decomposer was the discovery of the scientists at ICAR Pusa to solve the problem of stubble burning. The solution is a one-stop solution for converting the stubble into manure in just 15 to 20 days.
b) Reducing traffic emissions– Whether it is the Odd-Even rule or the encouragement of electric vehicles, the Delhi government has taken some praiseworthy steps for reducing traffic emissions. However, some small yet impactful steps should be taken by us as well.
Instead of going on a separate cab, try sharing cabs with your office mates and family. If you are planning for a vehicle, buy an electric one, for the sake of your as well as your countrymen well being.
c) Smog guns and towers– Smog towers are installed at many locations in Delhi to purify the air and make the air quality much better in the city. Smog towers are large-scale air purifiers that reduce particles present in air pollution. On the other hand, smog guns are useful for spraying tiny droplets of water to decrease dust particles in the air.
Indeed, the Delhi government is putting all its efforts into the betterment of the city’s environment. However, for fast pace development, all of us need to make efforts together. From following the government rules concerning air pollution to using renewable sources of energy, it is our responsibility to make Delhi a green city again.
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