Air Pollution In India: When Is It Deadly?

India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue, with the country ranking as the fifth most polluted in the world in 2019. The air quality tends to be at its worst in the winter months of November, December, January, and February. During this time, farmers in neighbouring agricultural regions burn post-harvest crop residue to clear land, which, coupled with vehicle and industrial emissions, and pollutants from firecrackers and construction dust, creates a public health crisis.

New Delhi's air pollution

New Delhi, the capital territory of India, has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world. In 2022, an August survey of 7,000 world cities by the US-based Health Effects Institute found that New Delhi had the worst air pollution of any major city. The city's poor air quality has irreversibly damaged the lungs of 2.2 million children.

The air pollution in New Delhi is caused by a combination of industrial and vehicular emissions, construction, and the burning of organic materials, such as crop residue and wood. In autumn and spring, large-scale crop residue burning in agricultural fields is a major source of smoke, smog, and particulate pollution. This method is used to prepare the ground for the next crop and is much cheaper than mechanical tilling.

In recent years, the Indian government has implemented several initiatives to address the air pollution in New Delhi and other affected cities. In 2019, the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) was launched, aiming to reduce air pollution by 20-30% by 2024 in over 122 of the worst-affected cities. Actions being taken in New Delhi include the implementation of health risk communication plans, increasing the number of monitoring stations, and better controlling industrial emissions. The government has also banned the entry of commercial petrol and diesel vehicles into the city and decided that fuel stations will stop providing fuel to vehicles older than 15 years, starting in April 2025.

Despite these efforts, air pollution in New Delhi remains a serious issue. In November 2024, the city recorded its worst air quality of the season, with a 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 491, classified as "severe plus." This level indicates hazardous conditions with significant health impacts, particularly for vulnerable populations. To cope with the poor air quality, embassies and international businesses in New Delhi are considering reducing staff tenures, advising staff to reconsider bringing their children to the city, and providing high-end air purifiers.

Industrial and vehicular emissions

India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue, with 14 of the 15 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentrations being in India. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and waste burning.

Industrial Emissions

Industrial activities are the primary culprits of India's air pollution, accounting for about 50% of the country's air pollution. Factories and power plants in urban areas release large quantities of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The average annual SOx and NOx emissions level and periodic violations in industrial areas of India were surprisingly lower than those in residential areas.

Vehicular Emissions

Vehicular pollution accounts for 27% of India's air pollution. The rapid increase in vehicles has led to higher carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter emissions. Transportation is the fastest-growing source of carbon emissions in the country and contributes to nearly 305.3 MtCO2e, or 0.64% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Indian cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Kolkata have some of the highest sources of NOx in the country, which is linked exclusively to vehicular pollution. An excess amount of NOx gives rise to ground-level ozone, which is highly correlated with respiratory diseases and asthma.

Government Initiatives

The Indian government has implemented several initiatives to address the country's air pollution problem. In 2015, the government launched the National Air Quality Index for air quality monitoring, and in 2019, it inaugurated the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to reduce air pollution levels by 20-30% by 2024 in over 122 of the worst-affected cities. The government is also working towards adopting electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce vehicular emissions.

Crop burning

India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue, with 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world in 2019 located in the country. One of the main contributors to India's poor air quality is the seasonal burning of crop residue by farmers. This practice is widespread, with millions of farmers burning crop residue every year, and it is not limited to India, with crop burning also prevalent in large parts of East Asia and Southeast Asia.

The Indian government has introduced multiple measures to reduce crop burning, including banning the practice and offering incentives for ecosystem services (PES), where cash transfers are given out on the condition that farmers do not burn their crops. However, implementing these penalties across jurisdictions has proved challenging due to the spread of smoke and a powerful farmer lobby that has made the ban politically costly to enforce.

Some farmers are adopting new equipment and techniques to avoid crop burning. For example, a farmer in Punjab uses a Super Seeder, which cuts leftover rice stubble, churns it into the soil, and plants wheat seeds all in one pass. Since 2018, The Nature Conservancy has been reaching out to farmers to teach them about alternatives to burning their fields. Additionally, a randomized controlled trial in Punjab found that PES contracts with partial upfront payments reduced crop residue burning by 10 percentage points, as they increased farmers' trust that they would receive the full cash transfer and potentially eased their liquidity constraints.

Poor enforcement of anti-pollution laws

India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue. 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, dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating by low-income and rural households.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was passed in 1981 to regulate air pollution, but it has failed to reduce pollution due to poor enforcement of the rules. Enforcement is delegated to the states through State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in the eight union territories that answer to state government heads. However, there is a lack of political will and public awareness, and the present framework under the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act of 1974 and the Air Act follows a command-and-control structure. The laws give importance to specific types of pollution or hazardous substances, but the present mechanism fails to accept the polluter-pay principle.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the federal agency responsible for implementing and overseeing environmental laws in India. An independent regulatory body, such as the proposed "National Environmental Protection Authority," is needed to monitor, regulate, and enforce environmental governance. The National Environmental Policy of 2006 also identifies the need to move to a strong civil liability mechanism based on the polluter-pay principle.

In 2019, the Indian government launched the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to address air pollution. The program aims to reduce pollution levels by 20-30% by 2024 in over 100 of the worst-affected cities. Actions include implementing health risk communication plans, increasing monitoring stations, and better controlling industrial emissions. Other initiatives include The Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometer-long and 5-kilometer-wide ecological corridor to combat pollution.

Health impacts of air pollution

India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, with all of its 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5, the most harmful pollutant. This pollutant is emitted by factories, cars, and other sources, and has been linked to deadly illnesses such as lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease. As a result, air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year, with an estimated 1.67 million deaths attributed to air pollution in 2019 alone.

The health impacts of air pollution in India are wide-ranging and severe. Studies have shown that both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution are associated with increased disease burden and mortality. One study found that Indians have 30% weaker lung function than Europeans, illustrating the detrimental effects of air pollution on respiratory health. Additionally, air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, stroke, and heart disease. The economic costs of these health impacts are also significant, with lost output and increased healthcare expenditures contributing to an estimated US$28.8 billion in economic losses in 2019.

The effects of air pollution are not limited to physical health, but also extend to mental health and overall well-being. For example, air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety, as well as reduced cognitive function. Poor air quality can also lead to social and economic impacts, particularly for vulnerable populations. People working in industries such as construction and factories, as well as those living in unhygienic environments, are more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution. This can result in decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, and social inequalities.

Furthermore, air pollution disproportionately affects poorer communities in India. Low-income and rural households that rely on biomass burning for cooking and heating contribute to indoor air pollution, which can have severe health consequences. According to the World Health Organization, 300,000 to 400,000 people die in India due to indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning from biomass burning and the use of chulhas (traditional cookstoves).

The Indian government has recognized the urgency of addressing air pollution and has implemented various initiatives to improve air quality. In 2019, the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) was launched, aiming to reduce air pollution levels by 20-30% by 2024 in over 122 of the worst-affected cities. The government is also monitoring key air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and implementing health risk communication plans to keep citizens informed. Additionally, India is collaborating with international organizations like the World Bank to enhance knowledge, build capacity, and mobilize finance for air quality management.

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