Air Pollution in Delhi
“The air quality in Delhi, the capital territory of India, according to a WHO survey of 1,650 world cities, is the worst of any major city in the world”
The above statement doesn’t come to us as a surprise , this is just a mere statement for a few barring the ones who understand the depth of it . We have all heard that Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world but at what cost? People dying of lung diseases , breathing problems etc , yet this doesn’t bother the people of Delhi which does come to me as a surprise.
Now Imagine that these roadways are clogged with traffic, a slow-moving swarm of vehicles spewing carbon monoxide and other toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. To avoid excessive exposure to dust and chemical particles in the air, you cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief. The air is not comfortable to inhale deeply, and it causes breathing difficulties, causing you to cough and wheeze. When you’re outside, your eyes wet, your nose runs, and you have headaches and inflamed eyes on a daily basis.
Arbitration has only increased the problem of fast industrialisation, as more people are being harmed and cities are unable to adopt effective pollution control methods. In Delhi Today, one of the most pressing issues confronting the public and concerned authorities is pollution. Delhi is the fourth most polluted city in the world in terms of Suspended Particulate Matter, according to the World Health Organization (SUM). Growing pollution is causing an increase in health issues. Population pressure and unplanned expansion are wreaking havoc on the environment.
The following are the primary sources of air pollution in Delhi and the surrounding areas:
1. Increasing population and accompanying development activities at the expense of the environment.
2. The region’s growth has been mostly unplanned, and industrial units that emit hazardous chemicals into the environment are frequently positioned in residential and commercial areas rather than designated regions.
3. Increased car traffic (which, despite the Delhi metro, has not decreased) and the resulting increase in air and noise pollution.
4. Stubble burning contributes to the region’s air pollution. Stubble burning on a massive scale in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan causes a heavy blanket of fog to blanket Delhi-NCR during the winter months. According to a research, agricultural residue burning emitted 149 million tonnes of CO2, more than 9 million tonnes of CO, 0.25 million tonnes of SOX, 1.28 million tonnes of particle matter (PM), and 0.07 million tonnes of black carbon. As is obvious, it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Firecrackers, while not the primary source of air pollution, contribute to the issue.
Problems caused due to Air Pollution :
1. Air pollution has a negative impact on human health. Low birth weight in children, TB, asthma, ischemic heart disease, nasopharyngeal and laryngeal malignancies, cataracts, and other diseases have been linked to it.
2. According to certain studies, air pollution might affect cognitive development as well.
3. Air pollution is linked to illnesses and diseases, which kill 600,000 children under the age of five each year.
4. Air pollution has a negative impact on the environment. The majority of pollutants are greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels are burned, and it is this gas that has the greatest influence on global warming.
Controlling Delhi’s Air Pollution: What Steps Have Been Taken?
The government (both the central and state governments) has made a number of initiatives to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The following are some of the metrics.
1. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste management guidelines have been published, requiring that C&D waste be separated into several types for safe disposal and processing.
2. The Delhi Government’s “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” campaign, which lasted from October to November 2020, encouraged commuters to turn off their vehicles’ engines while waiting for the green light at traffic signals.
3. The Delhi government implemented the odd-even rule, which required cars with odd and even registration numbers to use the road on alternating days. This was done primarily to reduce smog in the area.
The way forward :
Reducing air pollution in the nation’s capital is an urgent requirement for which both governments and residents must contribute. The government should enact the required legislation and ensure that it is effectively executed. Citizens must follow the rules and regulations and provide their fair share. Efforts to promote reforestation should be promoted. Renewable energy sources should be used more frequently, and the use of electric cars should be encouraged, with the appropriate infrastructure in place. Alternatives to stubble burning should also be made available to farmers.
