AIR Spotlight: Air Pollution - Effects and Precautions

AIR Spotlight is an insightful program featured daily on the All India Radio Newsonair. In this program, many eminent panellists discuss issues of importance which can be quite helpful in IAS exam preparation. This article is about the discussion on air pollution.

Participants: 

1. Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Environmentalist
2. Omvesh Upadhyay, AIR correspondent

Context: Air pollution rising in Delhi.

Introduction:

• India’s capital city Delhi experiences the worst levels of pollution during winter. Several factors are responsible for this, like:
  • Burning of farm stubble
  • Factory emissions
  • Traffic fumes
  • General weather patterns
  • Fireworks that light up the night sky during the Diwali festival

Challenges of managing air pollution:

• Every year a surge in air pollution is witnessed during winters in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). The two major reasons are:
  • Meteorology – The atmospheric layer, where the polluted air mixes in the atmosphere is reduced to half due to increased air density in the cold season. The winds do not blow at high speed causing the ventilation index or coefficient to remain low. It makes the atmospheric condition stable leading to high air pollution in the region.
  • Emissions – Local emissions from vehicles, agricultural fields, municipal solid waste burning, construction activities, and non-exhaust emissions contribute to air pollution.
• High air pollution episodes have become an annual trend in the entire Indo-Gangetic plane.

Government initiatives to tackle air pollution:

• The central and state governments are very serious about tackling the issue of air pollution as it poses serious health risks for human beings.
• In 2019, the Union government launched the National Clean Air Programme. The aim of the programme is to reduce 20-30 % of the particulate matter in non-attainment cities based on 2017 data by the year 2024.
  • There are 132 cities under this programme. The cities are majorly from the Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi regions.
  • It requires inter-sectoral coordination because air pollution has no boundaries.
• Moreover, both the Centre and States should collaborate and identify solutions. On the basis of this ideology, a meeting was held between the representatives of the Centre and the States chaired by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The meeting focused on the following issues:
  • Construction and Demolition Waste: Construction and demolition projects within the 500 square kilometre areas will have to register on the portal and should install a smoke gun. This would minimize the pollution from construction and demolition activities.
  • Crop residue burning: Efforts have already been made in this direction through various approaches like incentives, bans, punishments, etc. But additional measures were also discussed during the meeting.
  • Municipal Solid Waste Burning: It has the potential to contribute 20-30% of the total pollution load. The meeting thus focused on waste segregation and restricting burning in isolated areas.
  • Crackers usage during Diwali Festivals: Several states suggested a complete ban on crackers, whereas other states permitted the use of green firecrackers.
  • Public Participation: It was a key area of discussion which highlighted individual awareness and participation in reducing pollution. Activities like switching the electric appliance off or using electric vehicles can considerably reduce air pollution.
  • Technology: Authorities are also planning to expand the area under bio-decomposers as an important strategy of in-situ stubble management.
• The state and central government are considering both in-situ and ex-situ measures to control crop residue burning. For instance, the Punjab government developed a portal where societies/farmers can register and get benefits of farm machinery.
• There are also various industries that purchase crop stubble and use them as pellets in thermal power plants, cardboard, false ceilings, etc.
• The choice of using these options is majorly left to farmers, who can also use it for themselves in mulching to enhance productivity and yields. 
• Awareness generation drives and engagement of the farmers through various committees have also been undertaken multiple times.
• The government also provides incentives for crop diversification. The government of India suggested to the United Nations to designate 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
• A statutory body, Commission on Air Quality Management was also established by the Central government. It has proposed various measures like:
  • Energy generation through various stubble-based energy plants is either under development or proposed.
  • The establishment of various industries that convert the stubble to compost or biodegradable cutleries is also suggested.
• Other measures taken by the government:
  • Launch of electric vehicles.
  • Promotion of solar energy. India is a global leader in this direction.
  • The green building concept.
  • Diesel engines/pump sets are being discouraged.
  • Other renewable sources of energy are also being promoted.
  • Public transport based on renewable energy is also being promoted.

Way Ahead:

• All states should proactively take measures to ban or reduce the use of firecrackers, as suggested by recent studies by a group of exports.
• Green crackers should be promoted as they can reduce pollution by roughly thirty percent. Different types of green crackers proposed by the government are:
  • SWAS – Safe Water Releaser
    • They will release water vapour in the air which will suppress the dust released.
    • It will not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur, which are known for toxicity.
    • A diluent will be released for gaseous emissions.
  • STAR – Safe Thermite Cracker
    • Does not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur.
    • Reduced particulate matter disposal.
    • Reduced sound intensity.
  • SAFAL – Safe Minimal Aluminium
    • Usage of magnesium instead of aluminium.
    • Reduction in sound in comparison to traditional crackers.
• It is important to understand that air pollution is not only the responsibility of the government but is also the responsibility of every citizen.

Conclusion

It is usually noted that crop residue burning (particularly paddy) contributes to the rising pollution in the Delhi NCR region. To fight this challenge Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate aimed to promote alternate usage of paddy straw as an economic resource eyeing to solve the dual purpose of countering the smog issue as well as helping farmers economically.

Read previous AIR Spotlight articles in the link.

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