Delhi's Air Pollution: A Historical Perspective

Delhi's air pollution has been a pressing issue for years, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching hazardous levels of 999 in November 2017, equivalent to smoking 45-50 cigarettes a day. The crisis has multiple causes, including vehicular emissions, industrial activities, crop stubble burning, and construction dust. While temporary measures like school closures and work restrictions have been implemented, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims for long-term improvement by enhancing monitoring and reducing particulate matter concentrations. Despite efforts, pollution remains a critical concern, with AQI readings exceeding healthy levels and residents demanding more effective solutions.

Vehicular emissions

Delhi's air pollution has been a cause for concern for many years. In 2022, an August survey of 7,000 world cities by the US-based Health Effects Institute found that Delhi had the worst air pollution of any major city in the world.

The Indian government and the Delhi state government have implemented several measures to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality in Delhi. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims to significantly enhance the air quality in 100 cities, including Delhi, by 2026. While the NCAP has promised to reduce pollution levels, analysts argue that it needs to better integrate state-level activities.

To address vehicular emissions specifically, the Supreme Court of India has directed Delhi to implement a real-world emissions monitoring system using remote sensing technology. This system will identify high-emitting vehicles, send warnings to owners, and issue fines to the worst offenders. Additionally, Delhi has issued guidelines for scrapping old motor vehicles and introduced incentives for electric vehicles, such as preferential access to low- or zero-emission zones.

Despite these efforts, more needs to be done to tackle Delhi's vehicular emissions crisis. The International Council on Clean Transportation has outlined several recommendations, including setting aside funds for bus electrification, updating building codes to require EV readiness, and improving the emissions performance of existing vehicles. Implementing these measures and others will be crucial in reducing Delhi's air pollution and improving the health and well-being of its residents.

Industrial emissions

Delhi's air pollution has been a concern for several years, with the Indian Supreme Court declaring in 2019 that the city had become "worse than hell". The city's air quality has been attributed to various factors, including industrial emissions, which play a significant role.

Delhi's industrial landscape is diverse, including sectors such as textiles, metal, paper products, rubber, plastics, petroleum, and chemicals. These industries have the potential to emit various pollutants, including NOx, SO2, and particulate matter. For example, the textile industry, which employs a large number of workers, uses fossil fuels in boilers and furnaces, contributing to industrial emissions.

The geographical location of Delhi also plays a role in the impact of industrial emissions. The city is located approximately 160 km south of the Himalayas, which can trap cold air during the winter months, leading to a phenomenon called temperature inversion. This prevents air from moving vertically, causing pollutants to become concentrated and trapped in the lower atmosphere. As a result, industrial emissions that would otherwise dissipate become trapped and contribute to the city's hazardous air quality.

To address the issue of industrial emissions, the Delhi government has implemented various measures. These include the regulation of construction dust, the banning of diesel generators, and the establishment of a dedicated air pollution control team. However, the effectiveness of these measures has been debated, and air pollution remains a severe challenge for the city.

In summary, industrial emissions, particularly from power plants and various industries, have significantly contributed to Delhi's poor air quality. The city's geographical location further exacerbates the issue, trapping pollutants and creating hazardous smog. Ongoing efforts to address industrial pollution have had mixed results, and Delhi continues to struggle with the health and environmental impacts of poor air quality.

Crop stubble burning

Delhi's air pollution has been a persistent issue for years, with the air quality reaching "hazardous" levels in 2024. One significant contributor to this problem is crop stubble burning in neighbouring states, particularly Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

The practice of crop stubble burning involves farmers burning leftover straw or stubble to clear the soil for the next crop. This method is common in the agricultural states surrounding Delhi, such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, which have massive rice and wheat production. The smoke from these fires travels to Delhi, contributing to the city's air pollution.

The share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution varies, ranging from 1% to 42%, depending on wind speed and direction. In 2020, a report from the Environment Ministry stated that the average contribution had grown from 10% in 2019 to 15% in 2020. The problem is exacerbated by the synchronised burning of different crops around October and November, coinciding with the onset of winter when colder temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground, worsening the smog.

Efforts to Address Stubble Burning:

The Indian government has attempted to address the issue of stubble burning by offering alternative technologies, such as the Happy Seeder, which removes paddy straw while sowing wheat simultaneously. In 2022, the central government launched the Promotion of Agricultural Mechanisation for In-situ Management of Crop Residue scheme in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi NCR, subsidising the cost of in-situ crop residue management (CRM) equipment. Punjab received over Rs 1,387.6 crore under this scheme during 2018-22 to address stubble burning.

Despite these efforts, curbs to stop stubble burning have consistently failed. Farmers argue that they do not have sustainable alternatives, as the government is not offering effective solutions. Additionally, the Supreme Court of India has criticised the Centre for creating environment laws without implementing the necessary machinery for enforcement.

Poor public transport infrastructure

Delhi's air pollution has been a persistent issue for years, with hazardous levels of air quality recorded as early as November 2017. The problem has many causes, including vehicle emissions, industrial activities, crop stubble burning, and construction.

One significant factor contributing to Delhi's poor air quality is the city's transport infrastructure. Despite having a highly efficient public transport system with the Delhi Metro, the city has a staggering number of registered vehicles, most of which do not follow any pollution emission norms. As of June 2014, there were 16.6 million registered vehicles in Delhi, the highest in the world among all cities. This number had risen to over 79 lakh vehicles by 2024, with annual CO2 emissions of 69.4 million tonnes.

The city's reliance on private transport is due in part to the lack of efficient and safe public transport options. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus network is the mainstay of the city's transport system, with over 4.5 million daily users. However, only 5% of the buses are under surveillance, creating an unsafe environment, especially for women. The Metro is seen as a safer option, but it also suffers from a lack of last-mile connectivity, with feeder bus services being patchy or non-existent.

The development model of Delhi's infrastructure has favored private transport, with the construction of flyovers and highways, making it challenging for non-car commuters and exacerbating environmental and public health issues. The city's population density and traffic congestion have put excessive pressure on the existing transport infrastructure, leading to acute transport management problems.

To address these issues, there is a growing consensus that the mindset towards public transport needs to change. Instead of treating it as a profit-making entity, public transport should be recognized as an essential service, with investment in upgrading and expanding the network. Improving the efficiency, comfort, and broader infrastructure of the bus system can attract more private vehicle users and help reduce air pollution in Delhi.

Lack of political will

Delhi's air pollution has been a long-standing issue, and while there have been attempts to address it, the lack of political will remains a significant obstacle to implementing effective solutions.

One example of the lack of political will can be seen in the enforcement of existing laws and regulations. Despite India's Supreme Court taking cognizance of illegal stubble burning and summoning state administrators to present a plan of action, the federal government has been unwilling to enforce anti-burning laws. This is partly due to the political sensitivity of the issue, as no party wants to antagonize the powerful farming lobby by supporting a crop-burning ban.

Additionally, the government has failed to adequately address vehicle emissions, which contribute significantly to Delhi's air pollution. While the Delhi government has implemented policies such as odd-even road rationing to discourage vehicle use, these measures have not been effective due to exemptions for women drivers and two-wheelers, which make up the majority of vehicles. This indicates a lack of commitment to tackling the root causes of air pollution.

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aimed to improve air quality in 100 cities, including Delhi. However, analysts criticized the programme for focusing too much on individual cities rather than integrating state-level activities. This suggests a lack of coordination and political will to address air pollution at a national level.

The issue of air pollution in Delhi has also been normalized to some extent, with residents and politicians failing to prioritize it during elections or in policy manifestos. This lack of public outrage and political urgency reduces the incentive for parties to offer concrete solutions or make it a governing priority.

Furthermore, the judiciary has had to intervene on multiple occasions to address the failure of governance in tackling air pollution. The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded agencies responsible for governance and law and order for their inability to implement the ban on the sale and use of firecrackers, which contribute to the poor air quality.

In conclusion, the lack of political will to address air pollution in Delhi is evident in the failure to enforce existing laws, ineffective policies, lack of coordination between state and national efforts, normalization of the issue, and the need for judicial intervention. Until there is a strong political consensus and commitment to implementing solutions, Delhi's air pollution crisis will persist.

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