With the onset of winters, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and its neighbouring states has reached a severe category. If the situation persists, it could lead to critical health. issues in many people. At this point, an immediate and a collective effort by both the government and the people is required to bring about a positive change. Keeping these views in mind, write an article in about 125 words on Ways to reduce air pollution in Delhi.
Answers
Imminent dropping down in the AQI is reported in Delhi:
18th November, Delhi Reporting by Priyamvada
As the winter is commencing, the onset of the season brings a brutal collapse in the quality of Delhi air, and its neighboring states. The catastrophe is foreseen to wither if no rapid action and precautions are taken by the residents and government. The situation is leading itself towards a higher risk of loss of lives of thousands of innocents. Unified efforts from responsible citizens and the government can boost in fixing up the issues.
Some guidelines and protocols have been instructed by the government for the refinement of the state. It is expected that vehicles may furthermore go through odd-even criteria, and it would help to lessen the pollution. Also, it is wanted that people might do carpooling. And will use nonpolluting means of transport to travel a shorter distance, like the use of cycles. Also, it is advised that no burning in the farms should happen.
It is highly expected that if people follow these protocols even once a huge change can be seen.
Even as the Delhi government has pushed emergency notifications to tackle its current ‘Hazardous’ AQI which has breached 900, Delhi’s winter air pollution may continue to remain an annual event. Despite all efforts to introduce clean fuel and smog towers, the Arvind Kejriwal government may still have a lot to clean up and enforce. The state governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan too may have to pitch in. Anumita Roy Chowdhury. Executive Director Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment elaborated on areas where work is still left when it comes to dealing with Delhi’s AQI pollution problem and why emergency action may be far from enough; and in fact may back-fire.
The five reasons
1. Weather.
2..Garbage.
3. Cars.
4. Industry.
5. Crop burning.
1. Weather: Delhi, its neighbouring cities and entire northern India experiences a phenomenon called winter inversion. A typical weather phenomenon which results in low wind speed combined with a dip in temperature which leads to a ‘low mixing height’ and brings down the pollutants closer to ground. The pollutants become ‘trapped’ and as regular, day-to-day pollutants continue to pile, the pollution levels spike.
2. Garbage: Waste management in Delhi and its neighbouring cities is not carried out in adequate measure. Roy Chowdhury says that industrial pockets of Delhi still have a considerable about of garbage burning in progress, even as the pollution levels are high. “Delhi and its surrounding cities still are grappling with the issue of waste management. Unless industrial waste and horticulture waste is processed properly, garbage burning will continue to remain a major contributor to the pollution markers of the region,”
3. Cars: Delhi still does not have a mass transport system to support the requirements of its population. Besides, it has a high concentration of private vehicles. Unless the private vehicle users shift to mass transport, a long-term solution to the city’s vehicular pollution is not going to take place anytime soon.
4. Industry: While Delhi has shut down its coal-based power plants, neighbouring cities still continue to operate coal-based power plants. Additionally, industrial areas like Sonepat and Ghaziabad continue to remain problem areas. “Delhi’s pollution can’t be seen as an isolation, as long as its neighbouring industrial regions don’t clean up – long term solution of Delhi’s pollution problem is a pipe-dream,” said Roy Chowdhury.
5. Crop burning: Construction activity is at peak in the NCR with development and housing projects concentrated in its fringe cites which contributes to the PM10 component of the Air Quality through the year. But seasonal crop burning in Haryana and Punjab contributes to PM 2.5 levels and is a hazard every winter for the city. “This year, there was not much problem from crop burning initially because in October it rained. But the crop burning issue peaked in early November. On November 6, crop-burning contributed to 48% of the pollutant mix of Delhi air. The 20 days of annual crop burning continue to add to the local pollution problems at this time and unless long term solutions are found, emergency measures may not led to solutions.