Air remains 'very poor,' in Delhi through Diwali

Through Diwali, air across Delhi is predicted to remain heavily polluted, Union Ministry of Earth Sciences state predicts. On November 5 morning, the stubble burning from neighbouring states caused a spike in pollution levels of Delhi, said Gufran Beig, Project Director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) of the Ministry.

Crop residue being burnt on a farm in Jewar, Gautam Buddh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) on the outskirts of Delhi. Photo: Kamal Narang

Compared to last year, the national capital has seen slight respite in its pollution levels. According to an analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while in October last year, up to 47 per cent days fell under 'Very Poor,' category, has reduced to 29 per cent this year.

For example, on October 20 last year, average Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 levels for four recording stations in Delhi were as high as 484 micrograms per cubic meter, eight times higher than the satisfactory levels of 0-60. This year, however, the levels for the same stations stood at 168 up to four times lesser than last year.

Even as the pollution is lesser, things are far from normalised in Delhi, says Anumita Roy chowdhury, Executive Director - Research and Advocacy and head of the air pollution and clean transportation programme, CSE. While the long-term Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) has yet not been notified, it's been over a year since the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) for NCR submitted it to Supreme Court in April 2017, the emergency graded action plan is limited in it's scope and erratic in implementation because fundamentals are not in place, Roy Chowdhury said.

“We are fire fighting now. Even as generator sets were ordered to be shut in Delhi, they could not be shut in National Capital Region because electric supply is unstable. Also, a four time increase in parking fees will not help, when parking policy rules itself are not notified. There needs to be a city-wide implementation of rules,” she added.

In order to comply with ideal standards, India needs to reduce it's PM 2.5 levels by 74 per cent. Beijing for example, reduced it's PM 2.5 between 2012 to 2017 by 25 per cent by getting rid of coal-based power plants, massive increase in public transportation and capping of number of cars that could be sold in the market annually. “Will India be able to implement rules with such stringency?,” asks Roychowdhury.

According to latest estimates by CSE, vehicles contribute to upto 40 per cent of pollution in Delhi. Emphasising on the thrust towards public transport, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesperson of the Congress party said that the construction of the Phase 4 of the Metro project should begin at the earliest. There are ten in all conceptualised by the previous government. Also, Singhvi said revival of 35 kms long Ring Railway in Delhi and roping in of railways to strengthen freight movements will be helpful in reducing pollution in the city.

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