Irritation in their eyes, throat, and nose, along with irregular heartbeats, asthma attacks, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. The symptoms begin to haunt as soon as the winter begins to set in. Long queues in the hospitals and clinics are a common sight. Welcome to New Delhi, the capital of India and the world’s most polluted city!
For the millions who live in Delhi and the National Capital Region, this is not merely an environmental crisis but a public health emergency. According to a report, India loses more than a million lives annually due to air pollution alone.
A recent study between October 12- November 3, 2024, by the Centre for Science and Environment reveals that vehicular emissions are the largest contributor to Delhi’s air pollution, accounting for 51.5 per cent of the city’s pollution. Neighbouring districts add 34.97 per cent, farm fires contribute 8.19 per cent, and dust particles make up 3.7 per cent of the total air pollution in the city.
Although emissions aren’t new to the public since they remain similar throughout the year, pollution and hazardous air quality worsen in Delhi-NCR during winter months. This can be attributed to multiple factors including temperature inversion in which a layer of cool air forms near the ground, trapping pollutants and preventing them from dispersing. Also, low wind speeds during the winters reduce the dispersion of pollutants.
Further, the problem of burning of crop residue in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana that makes headlines every year as the winter approaches. The resulting smoke, combined with wind patterns, contributes significantly to Delhi’s air pollution.
To address the rising air pollution in the national capital, the Delhi government implemented Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan on November 2, following a spike in pollution levels. On Friday, the government also banned BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers to curb the city’s worsening air quality.
New Delhi faced severely poor air quality for the third consecutive day 15th November, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 409, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Thick smog blanketed the city, reducing visibility and causing disruptions in traffic and flights. The Delhi government also announced online classes for students up to class 5 due to the deteriorating air quality. In a post on X, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said, “Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions.”
Out of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations, 21 recorded AQI levels in the “severe” range, with four classified as “severe plus.” Areas such as Jahangirpuri, Bawana, Wazirpur, and Rohini reported the highest pollution levels, with AQIs of 458, 455, 455, and 452, respectively.
The AQI is categorised as follows: a reading between 0 and 50 is deemed “good”; 51 to 100 is “satisfactory”; 101 to 200 is “moderate”; 201 to 300 is “poor”; 301 to 400 is “very poor”; and 401 to 500 is “severe.”
Although a series of measures are being undertaken to control the worsening situation such as entry restrictions were placed on interstate buses from NCR states, except those operating on electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel, halting construction and demolition activities, suspending mining operations, daily water spraying on major roads, and transitioning to online classes for younger students, leaving people bewildered when will they be able to breathe fresh air!
Air pollution in Delhi poses serious health risks, impacting citizens’ well-being in both the short and long term. Experiencing irritation in eyes, throat, and nose, etc. can be depressing at times. Prolonged exposure intensifies these risks, leading to severe long-term effects such as chronic respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. Pollutants can also damage lung tissue, increasing the likelihood of lung cancer. Air pollution raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes and has been linked to premature death, making it a major public health crisis in the region.
In short, a nation developing at the cost of it’s people’s health has definitely lost its purpose when it fails to provide fresh and clean air to it’s citizens. High time the authorities take cognizance of the alarming situation before it reaches to the never normal conditions.
