Urban India's Air Pollution Crisis: Why It's Happening

India's urban areas are facing air pollution issues due to a combination of factors, including vehicular emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, and burning crop residue. In 2019, 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world were in India, and over two million Indians die prematurely each year due to air pollution. India's air pollution challenge spans rural and urban areas, with primary sources of PM2.5 pollution including household emissions, power sector emissions, industrial activities, transportation, open burning of crops and waste, and dust. While air pollution levels across north India receive the majority of media attention, PM2.5 levels are still exceeding the 40 µg/m3 cut-off in rural and urban areas in all regions except the south. India is taking significant steps to address this problem, including strengthening vehicular and industrial emission standards, promoting electric vehicles, and supplying LPG cooking fuel to millions of households.

Vehicular emissions

Vehicles contribute about 27% of India's particulate air pollution, with annual emissions of around 290 gigagrams (Gg) of PM2.5. PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, which are more than 100 times thinner than a human hair and remain suspended in the air for longer. These particles are easily inhaled and can cause serious respiratory issues, including asthma, which is the most common health problem faced by Indians. The transport sector is responsible for a third of India's PM pollution and 20-35% of PM2.5 pollution in urban areas. In Delhi, transport emissions exceed 30% of total emissions.

To tackle vehicular emissions, the Indian government has implemented Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards, which are based on European (EURO) standards. These standards aim to reduce vehicular emissions by regulating the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines and spark-ignition engine equipment, including motor vehicles. Since 2020, BS-VI (BS6) standards have been in force nationwide, with the central government mandating that only BS6 vehicles can be manufactured, sold, and registered. The implementation of these standards has led to a significant decrease in tailpipe emissions, with a 30% reduction in NOx and PM2.5 emissions when moving from BS-III to BS-IV norms.

In addition to emission standards, India is also focusing on expanding renewable energy and promoting electric vehicles to combat air pollution from the transport sector.

Industrial activities

One of the

Poor waste management

The lack of proper treatment and management of MSW, particularly in urban areas, has been identified as a major cause of air pollution. Delhi, for example, generates around 5,300 tonnes of PM10 and 7,550 tonnes of PM2.5 annually from waste burning alone. Methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) released from landfills and composting processes further exacerbate the problem. The Indian government has introduced initiatives such as door-to-door collection of segregated waste and the establishment of compost pits in urban cities to address open waste burning.

The burning of traditional fuels, such as fuelwood, crop residue, and dung cakes, is also a significant source of air pollution in urban areas. While the use of these fuels constitutes about 24% of total energy consumption in urban India, the inefficient stoves used in households produce more smoke and air pollutants per kilogram of fuel burned. Additionally, tyre pyrolysis plants, which recycle rubber tyres, contribute to severe air pollution and health issues.

The problem of poor waste management in India is not limited to solid waste. The adulteration of gasoline and diesel with lower-priced fuels, such as kerosene, solvents, and lubricants, is a common practice in the country. This adulteration increases the emission of harmful pollutants from vehicles, worsening urban air quality. Financial incentives, such as differential taxes on different types of fuel, drive this practice. As a result, public transport drivers blend cheaper hydrocarbons with highly taxed ones, leading to significant cost savings over time. However, the long-term consequences for air pollution, quality of life, and public health are largely ignored.

To address the issue of poor waste management and reduce air pollution, India needs to implement efficient MSW management and treatment techniques beyond landfilling and composting. Additionally, standardized tools and control strategies for air pollution management should be applied across the country. Public awareness programs can also play a crucial role in educating urban and rural residents about the harmful effects of air pollutants and the importance of proper waste management practices.

Household emissions

India's urban areas, particularly its large cities, are facing significant air pollution challenges due to various factors, including household emissions. Here is a detailed overview of the impact of household emissions on India's air quality:

Fuel adulteration

The blending of cheaper fuels can increase the emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles, exacerbating the already poor air quality in Indian cities. Some reports claim that tailpipe emissions from auto-rickshaws, which often run on adulterated fuel blends, contribute significantly to pollution. The problem is further aggravated by the lack of stringent fuel quality standards and accurate testing methods for detecting adulteration. Oil companies also deny responsibility for the quality of their fuel, and the penalties for adulteration are weak. As a result, the gains from improving vehicle technology are lost, and the transition to cleaner technologies is hindered.

The Indian government has been working to address the issue of fuel adulteration and its impact on air pollution. In 2002, the Supreme Court directed the Union of India to introduce "clean non-adulterable fuel" in critically polluted cities. Additionally, India has been taking significant steps to combat air pollution, such as strengthening vehicular and industrial emission standards, promoting renewable energy, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, and providing LPG cooking fuel to households.

Traffic congestion in Indian cities further contributes to air pollution. Studies have shown that at low speeds due to congestion, vehicles burn fuel inefficiently and emit pollutants at a higher rate per trip. For example, cars in congested traffic can consume more fuel and pollute more compared to free-flowing traffic. The increase in the number of vehicles and mileage contributes to higher emissions of particles and heavy metals over time.

While India has made progress in reducing pollution in some cities, the overall problem of air pollution persists and requires further coordinated efforts at the local, regional, and national levels. The World Bank has been assisting India in Air Quality Management through phased strategies and the introduction of tools for airshed management. India has also set an ambitious target of generating 500 GW of energy from renewable sources by 2030, with 190 GW already achieved as of March 2024. These initiatives aim to reduce India's reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution on public health and the economy.

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