Strengthening India’s Air Quality Management

This editorial is based on the article titled “Delhi’s Winter Action Plan for pollution appears unconvincing,” published in The Hindu on May 7, 2024. It addresses the recurring air pollution crisis in Delhi and highlights the need for a more holistic, year-round approach rather than just short-term solutions. The article also critiques the broader issues in India’s air quality management systems and advocates for science-driven, proactive interventions.

Key Concepts:

• Prelims Focus: Topics such as the air pollution crisis, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), electric vehicles, and government programs like FAME-II and SATAT.
• Mains Focus: Broader issues related to air pollution in India and the government’s key measures for improving air quality.

Delhi’s Annual Air Pollution Crisis

With the onset of winter, Delhi is once again facing its usual air pollution challenges. The city has introduced a Winter Action Plan that includes measures like drone surveillance and inter-departmental task forces. However, the overall efforts are hindered by slow implementation and short-term goals. While stubble burning in neighboring states is being addressed, the plan lacks a long-term, integrated approach to managing consistently high pollution levels throughout the year.

Broader Issues in India’s Air Quality Management

The problem extends beyond Delhi, reflecting deeper flaws in India’s national air quality management strategy. The CAQM has been criticized for ineffective state coordination. Experts have suggested geographically targeted interventions using the airshed approach, but Delhi’s action plan lacks significant implementation in this regard. As hazardous air quality becomes more frequent, India needs to adopt more adaptable, science-backed strategies to manage this ongoing public health crisis.

Why Air Pollution is a Major Issue in India?

1. Inadequate Implementation of Pollution Control Policies: Despite having several policies in place, India struggles with their effective implementation. For example, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aimed to reduce particulate matter levels by 20-30% by 2024 in 122 cities. However, by 2023, only 95 cities had shown a decrease in PM10 levels.
2. Stubble Burning and Seasonal Pollution Spikes: The practice of stubble burning in northern India remains a major cause of pollution during the winter months. In 2022, Punjab alone reported over 30,000 incidents. Although the number of incidents has slightly declined, the lack of affordable alternatives for farmers continues to fuel the problem.
3. Rapid Urbanization and Infrastructure Development: The rapid urban growth in India has exacerbated pollution. In 2019, construction activities accounted for 30% of PM10 emissions and 8% of PM2.5 emissions in cities, further deteriorating urban air quality due to poor dust management practices.
4. Rising Vehicle Emissions: India’s vehicle production and ownership rates continue to rise, making vehicular emissions a significant contributor to urban air pollution. Despite efforts to promote electric vehicles, they make up only a small fraction of total vehicles.
5. Industrial Emissions and Weak Enforcement: Industrial pollution remains a critical issue. Only 5% of India’s coal-fired plants have installed sulfur dioxide pollution control devices. Additionally, 43 industrial areas in 17 states are classified as “critically polluted,” with weak enforcement of emission norms.
6. Indoor Air Pollution: Indoor air pollution remains an underappreciated issue in India. According to the World Health Organization, around 6.7 million premature deaths globally can be linked to indoor air pollution, with India being one of the most affected countries.
7. Climate Change Worsening Pollution: Climate change exacerbates air pollution. The 2023 IPCC report notes that changing weather patterns are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of air pollution episodes in South Asia. For instance, unusual rainfall in October 2023 in North India led to prolonged stagnant air conditions.

Government Initiatives for Air Quality Improvement:

1. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in 2019, this program aims to improve air quality in 131 cities by reducing PM10 levels by 40% by 2025-26. Significant improvements have been seen in 88 cities.
2. Control of Vehicular Emissions: The introduction of BS-VI fuel standards and BS VI-compliant vehicles in 2020 is an important step. Additionally, schemes like FAME-II promote electric vehicles, and new highways aim to reduce emissions by diverting traffic away from cities.
3. Industrial Emission Control: New regulations for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in thermal power plants have been implemented. Cleaner fuels like PNG are replacing pet coke and furnace oil in industries.
4. Stubble Burning Control: Subsidies and financial assistance have been provided to encourage crop residue management in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. These efforts aim to reduce stubble burning incidents.
5. Air Quality Monitoring: The National Air Quality Index was launched in 2015, with over 1,400 monitoring stations established across the country. Air quality forecasts are also available, especially for the Delhi-NCR region.
6. Construction and Waste Management: Guidelines have been issued for managing construction and demolition waste. Anti-smog guns have been deployed at large construction sites to reduce dust pollution.

Technology-Driven Solutions to Reduce Air Pollution:

1. Pariyayantra Filtration Units: A pilot project in which buses were retrofitted with rooftop air filters to capture dust from the environment.
2. WAYU Air Purification Units: These air purification units were installed at major traffic intersections in Delhi to reduce vehicular emissions.
3. Ionization Technology: This technology helps neutralize pollutants through ionization, improving air quality in specific areas.
4. Smog Towers: Large smog towers have been set up to filter particulate matter and other pollutants over a wide area.
5. Retrofit Emission Control Devices: Older vehicles are being retrofitted with emission control devices to reduce their environmental impact.

Suggested Measures to Improve Air Quality in India:

1. Stricter Industrial Emission Norms: India should adopt more stringent industrial norms, such as installing flue gas desulfurization units in all coal-based power plants.
2. Transition to Clean Energy: India should accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, aiming for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
3. Urban Green Cover: Indian cities should increase green cover through projects like vertical forests and urban forests, inspired by China’s vertical forest in Nanjing.
4. Sustainable Urban Transportation: Cities should promote electric vehicles, improve public transportation, and encourage non-motorized transport options.
5. Advanced Air Quality Monitoring: India needs a comprehensive, real-time air quality monitoring system using low-cost sensors and AI-driven forecasting models.
6. Sustainable Agricultural Practices: To address stubble burning, policies should promote crop diversification and reward farmers for adopting eco-friendly practices.
7. Sector-Specific Emission Reduction: Strategies like enforcing stricter dust control measures in construction and promoting cleaner technologies in brick kilns can significantly reduce emissions.

Conclusion:

To address India’s persistent air pollution crisis, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This requires science-driven long-term solutions, stringent enforcement of norms, and the promotion of sustainable practices across sectors. Only through coordinated efforts can India safeguard public health and improve air quality for future generations.

Explore our Books: https://apnipathshala.com/product-category/books/

Explore Our test Series: https://tests.apnipathshala.com/