Sansad TV Perspective: That Choking Feeling

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: ‘That Choking Feeling’

Guests:

1. Vivek Chattopadhyaya, Senior Program Manager, Clean Air and Sustainable Mobility, Centre for Science and Environment
2. Dr. Sanjeev Agarwal, Former Additional Director, Central Pollution Control Board
3. Urmi Goswami, Senior Journalist

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Context:

• Air quality in the Delhi-NCR is deteriorating with each passing day and it continues to remain in the ‘severe’ category.
  • This problem however is not just limited to the NCR region. According to the National Air Quality Index, several major and small towns in the country are in the poor to severe category.

Factors contributing to the air pollution problem in the Delhi-NCR region:

• According to the latest assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment, when pollution concentrations from all sources – local, NCR and beyond are added, Delhi’s vehicles account for nearly 17 per cent of total PM2.5 concentration. However, vehicles’ daily share of pollution from local sources varied between 49.3 per cent and 53 per cent during the week of Diwali in 2022.
• Delhi-NCR region is most troubled by air pollution at the onset of the winter season with stubble burning in adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh accounting for at least one-third of the pollutants.
• Geographic factors, lower temperatures and stagnant winds contribute to the air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
• Crackers during the Diwali season contribute to the hike in air pollution in the Diwali period.

Concerns:

• Despite various steps being taken for monitoring and management of air quality for reducing air pollution, its levels remain alarmingly high in the region. This might be indicative of the lack of proper implementation of the proposed plans to reduce air pollution.
• Air pollution in the national capital and NCR region has been severely affecting people’s health especially elders and children.

Recommendations:

• Rather than reactive measures to tackle air pollution, there is a need for more proactive measures on the following lines.
  • Switching to greener fuels like CNG and Hydrogen fuels for vehicles is the urgent need of the hour. Electric vehicles need to be encouraged. Policy measures need to be formulated for this transition.
  • There is a need to promote public transportation in terms of connectivity and quality in the region. This will help limit vehicular movement to some extent.
  • Farmers need to be discouraged from stubble burning and alternatives should be promoted for the same.

Read all the previous Sansad TV Perspective articles in the link.

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