Understanding India's Pollution Crisis: Causes And Effects

India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 1.67 million people dying in 2019 due to air pollution. The main causes of India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power plants, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung by low-income and rural households for cooking and heating. Air pollution in India has severe health consequences, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and reducing life expectancy. It also impacts the economy, with an estimated economic loss of $36.8 billion in 2019. While India has made some progress in reducing air pollution, it remains a persistent issue, particularly in highly polluted cities like Delhi.

Industrial and vehicular emissions

India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. Air pollution causes more than 2 million deaths per year in India, with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases being common health issues.

Industrial Emissions

India emits about 3 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases each year, which is about two and a half tons per person. This is less than the world average, but India's large population means that the country emits 7% of global emissions, despite only having 17% of the world population.

The main sources of industrial emissions in India include:

• Factories
• Thermal power stations
• Construction dust and debris

Vehicular Emissions

Vehicular emissions are a major cause of air pollution in India's urban areas, contributing 20-30% of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 at the breathing level of air quality. The transport sector accounts for a quarter of total emissions, with road transport being responsible for three-quarters of transport emissions.

The use of adulterated fuel blends in vehicles is common in India, with gasoline being mixed with cheaper hydrocarbons such as kerosene. This practice increases emissions of harmful pollutants and worsens urban air pollution.

The steady increase in the number of private cars and trucks on the road is also a significant contributor to vehicular emissions in India.

Construction dust and debris

Construction activities throw up a lot of dust, which, when inhaled, can cause serious respiratory issues. In Delhi, for example, construction is a major source of pollution, with the city's 25 million residents dealing with dust from building sites in addition to emissions from over 3,000 to 4,000 factories and eleven small thermal power stations. The dust and debris from construction sites can contain harmful particles and pollutants that negatively impact air quality and human health.

The Indian government has implemented initiatives to address air pollution, such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme, which aims to provide clean cooking fuel to women in disadvantaged households. This initiative has contributed to a notable decline in rural PM2.5 levels in some states, such as Uttar Pradesh, which saw a 38.1% reduction between 2017 and 2022. However, air pollution remains a persistent issue, with India's Central Pollution Control Board reporting that 180 cities in the country had particulate matter levels six times higher than the permissible limit set by the World Health Organization.

To combat this, India has launched the National Clean Air Program, aiming to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024. The program involves collaboration between various organizations, including the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, supported by the Clean Air Fund. These efforts are crucial for protecting public health and promoting sustainable development in India.

Dependence on thermal power for electricity

India's dependence on thermal power for electricity is a significant contributor to the country's air pollution problem. Thermal power generation, which includes diesel, gas, and coal-based electricity generation, contributes to 63% of India's total electricity generation capacity. While India has committed to adopting a climate-friendly and cleaner path for economic development, reducing emissions intensity, and increasing the share of non-fossil fuel-based energy resources, thermal power still plays a dominant role in the country's electricity basket.

The use of thermal power for electricity has several negative impacts on the environment. Firstly, thermal power production results in a significant amount of carbon emissions, contributing to India's high levels of air pollution. Carbon-containing gases released from thermal power generation are more reactive than cleaner fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas. This leads to an increase in particulate matter and other harmful pollutants in the air, which have detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

Secondly, the burden of pollution from thermal power generation is disproportionately borne by certain states. The electricity and environmental regulatory structures in India do not adequately compensate the states that generate electricity from central sector thermal power plants. As a result, the producing states bear the negative externalities, such as pollution and environmental damage, while the consuming states enjoy the benefits of clean electricity. This has led to a situation where coal-rich states, such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, face a unique challenge, producing the maximum thermal electricity but consuming substantially less compared to other states.

Additionally, the construction and operation of thermal power plants contribute to air pollution. The construction process generates dust and debris, which are major sources of particulate air pollution. Once operational, thermal power plants emit industrial pollutants into the atmosphere, further degrading air quality.

To address the issue of pollution from thermal power generation, India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy (RE) capacity additions. According to reports, India's dependence on thermal power is expected to reduce to 50% by 2021-22 and further decrease to 43% by 2026-27 due to the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources. The government has recognized the importance of reducing the country's dependence on thermal power and is working towards enhancing its transmission and distribution infrastructure for renewable energy.

Waste burning

India is one of the most polluted countries in the world. In 2019, it was ranked seventh among the countries most affected by climate change. The country emits about 3 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases each year, which is about two and a half tons per person and contributes to 7% of global emissions, despite only having 17% of the world's population.

The burning of materials like plastic, glass, metal, and rubber releases dangerous chemical compounds and particulates into the air, including carbon monoxide, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, NOx, and formaldehyde. Waste burning is rampant in many Indian cities and significantly contributes to overall pollution levels. For example, studies in Patna, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Punjab have shown that a large percentage of particulate matter pollution resulted from waste burning, closely followed by industrial and vehicular emissions.

In addition to MSW, India also generates a large amount of agricultural waste, including crop residues. In the absence of adequate sustainable management practices, approximately 92 metric tons of crop waste is burned every year in India, causing excessive particulate matter emissions and air pollution. Crop residue burning has become a major environmental problem, causing health issues and contributing to global warming. The Indian government has attempted to address this issue through campaigns and initiatives promoting sustainable management methods, such as converting crop residue into energy.

To combat waste burning, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned the burning of solid waste, imposing fines for each incident. The NGT has also directed state and union governments to implement the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016. While this is a step in the right direction, ensuring the effective implementation of these rules is crucial to combating air pollution in India.

Use of wood and dung for cooking and heating

India is one of the most polluted countries in the world. Of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 21 were in India in 2019. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and the dependence on thermal power for electricity. However, one of the significant causes of pollution in India is the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating.

Over two-thirds of Indians, about 100 million people, still burn wood and dung-based fuel for cooking, leading to a million deaths a year from indoor pollution. The carbon-emitting biomass and dung-based fuel are five to ten times more polluting than a gas stove. The World Health Organization's Household Air Pollution and Health report states that over 50% of premature deaths among children under five are due to pneumonia caused by particulate matter (soot) inhaled from household air pollution. The report adds that over 3.8 million premature deaths annually from non-communicable diseases, including stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, are attributed to exposure to household air pollution.

The use of wood and dung for cooking and heating has severe health, environmental, and economic consequences. The smoke emitted from burning wood and dung contains harmful pollutants such as dioxins and chlorophenols, which are damaging to human health. The organic matter content of dung, which ranges from 50% to 75%, results in a lower heating value than wood, leading to higher fuel consumption and increased pollution. The collection of fuelwood also places a burden on women in rural areas, who invest valuable time and effort into gathering fuel instead of focusing on their children's education or income generation.

The practice of burning wood and dung for cooking and heating is deeply entrenched in Indian culture, particularly in rural areas. Cow dung is easily accessible and free for those who keep cattle, making it a popular choice for fuel. However, the use of cow dung as fuel has adverse effects on the environment, as it removes a valuable waste product from the agricultural production system and reduces its availability as a fertilizer.

To address the problem of indoor pollution caused by burning wood and dung, India faces the challenge of providing access to adequate and affordable clean energy alternatives. Improved cookstoves, such as the introduction of fuel-saving devices like heat exchangers and thermal insulation, can help reduce fuel consumption and lower pollution levels. Additionally, providing sustainable forms of energy for cooking will empower women in rural areas to focus on income-generating activities, contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger.

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