For the umpteenth time, Delhi has been struggling with deteriorating air quality because pollution levels are on a rise throughout the city. As the Air Quality Index hovered around the “poor” and “very poor” categories in many key monitoring locations, environmental experts and public health professionals warned of an unfolding crisis. Residents, especially children, the elderly, and others susceptible to respiratory ailments, were already feeling the immediate effects of the worsening air conditions; thus, the question again was being raised regarding this long-standing struggle of the capital city for cleaner air.
Over the last week, monitoring agencies have highlighted a wide difference between official AQI data and recordings on the ground. Independent sensors and environmental studies have reported close to 30-40% higher readings of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) than officially recorded averages in certain residential and heavy-traffic zones. This anomaly has sparked fresh debates on the accuracy, placement, and effectiveness of government monitoring stations. Environmental activists cite that many such gadgets are either very old or inefficiently maintained and thus often provide biased readings that downplay the actual levels of pollution exposure for the residents.
The air pollution problem is not new to Delhi. Every year, around the beginning of winter, cooler temperatures, low wind speed, and increasing humidity all combine to trap pollutants close to the ground. The resultant smog layer drastically cuts visibility and deteriorates air quality. However, seasonal weather conditions are only part of the story. The source of pollutants is diverse and largely human-driven, including vehicular emissions, industrial output, open waste burning, construction dust, and smoke from stubble burning in neighboring states. The post-harvest burning practices continue unabated in most parts of the NCR, comprising large swathes of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, despite repeated bans and state-level warnings.
Residents are feeling the effects first-hand. Many residents complained of increased incidences of coughing, throat irritability, burning eyes, headaches, and aggravated asthma. Doctors have also reported an increase in the number of outpatient visits due to respiratory problems. According to pulmonologists, long-term health complications such as chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and cardiovascular strain can result from continuous exposure to high pollutant levels. Parents are particularly worried about children since their developing lungs are more vulnerable to pollution damage. Some families are even considering shifting temporarily to nearby hill regions to escape the toxic air.
Further fuelling public outrage was a viral video of the difference in visibility and clarity of air between Delhi and Vienna as captured by a passenger during a flight landing. The video spread like wildfire on social media, becoming a symbol of the capital’s worsening air quality crisis. It would seem the visual proof struck a deeper chord amongst citizens compared to statistical bulletins.
In the face of the fast-worsening scenario, some countermeasures have been taken by government agencies. Already, the GRAP has been invoked across large parts of the city, banning construction activity, DG sets, and certain categories of private and commercial vehicles. The government has also mobilized sprinklers, anti-smog guns, and mechanical road cleaners in areas where traffic remains high. But critics of the environment say these actions are hardly at the root of the problem-they are palliatives rather than preventives. Structural reform, they say, must be aimed at the source of the emissions, improving public transport systems, incentivizing cleaner fuels, efficiently managing waste, and seriously investing in renewable energy.
MCD has said that it will set up a number of waste processing plants to check the problem of landfill fires and reduce open dumping. Though a step in the right direction, results may take years to materialize. Meanwhile, residents are left to cope with the immediate crisis by wearing high-filtration masks, using air purifiers at home, and minimizing outdoor activity during peak pollution hours. The continuous air quality emergency reflects the deep-seated environmental challenges of one of the world’s largest and busiest metropolitan regions.
As Delhi further develops economically and in terms of infrastructure, sustainable urban development is becoming a key imperative. At both the city and regional levels, comprehensive and coordinated policies are yet to be implemented to break this normal cycle of winter pollution, which comes with major implications for public health, quality of life, and future development in the region. More intense spells of pollution could be seen in Delhi over the next few weeks as the temperatures start to drop further. The hope remains that for millions of its residents, actionable, long-term solutions can replace temporary band-aid measures and make clean air a right, rather than a seasonal luxury.
