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Source: This post on Air Pollution in Indian cities has been created based on the articles “Tiding over” and “Giving the urban Indian a better life” published in The Hindu on 6th November 2023.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Environment – Environmental pollution and degradation
News: These articles discuss the issue of air pollution in cities in India. It highlights the multiple issues behind the worsening of air pollution in Indian cities as well as the steps required to tackle these challenges.
A detailed article on Air Pollution can be read here.
What is the status of air pollution in India?
According to Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC), out of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 39 are in India.
Not just in the Indo-Gangetic plains, air quality is worsening even in India’s coastal cities.
An average Indian loses 5.3 years of his life expectancy due to air pollution. For the residents of Delhi, it is 11.9 years.
Why is the problem of air pollution worsening in Indian cities?
1) Urban development strategy in India — The current strategy focuses on real estate development, a widening of roads and allowing large fuel guzzling vehicles which are major reasons for increased pollution.
2) Anthropogenic factors — Road dust, polluting industrial units and vehicular emissions are key factors too.
3) Expansion of ‘Grey’ infrastructure — Water bodies, urban forests, green cover, and urban agriculture have all reported shrinkage, and “grey” infrastructure has seen rapid expansion.
4) Crop residue burning — During winter in North India, the burning of paddy straw (parali) is a major cause for smog (smoke and particulate matter).
5) Land use change — The handing over of open spaces to real estate developers and lack of any meaningful afforestation affects the city’s ecology.
6) Promoting car sales — Widening roads induces people to buy more cars, thus leading to more pollution levels.
7) Construction activities — It contributes roughly 10% of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. There are hardly any steps being taken to monitor construction activities.
8) Lack of people’s participation in urban policy — City residents hardly have any participatory role in the urbanisation process.
9) Issues with CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) — Its powers are limited to recommendations only.
What should be done?
1) Alternative strategy of city building: A “sustainable and ecological urbanization” is required.
2) Focusing on public transport: There needs to be accessible and affordable public transport, with investment in buses for towns and cities.
3) Controlling private vehicular movement: A congestion tax can be levied on private car owners. ‘Odd-even’ or a ‘no-car day’ can be put into practice. Transitioning to green vehicles is also important.
4) Adoption of a Graded Response Action Plan: These are different sets of actions that get activated based on the air quality air in Delhi. This mechanism must be adopted in other Indian cities too.
5) Monitoring of industrial Pollution: Real-time monitoring should be done alongwith street supervision by residents.
6) Preserving urban commons: These include ponds, water bodies, urban forests, parks, playgrounds.
7) Strengthening urban governance: Pollution guides and standard operating procedures for various departments and agencies must be made readily available to the people.
8) Increasing Coordination: Bodies such as the CAQM should ensure greater coordination and compliance.
Terminology Used:
Grey Infrastructure: It involves engineered assets that provide one or multiple services required by society, such as transportation or wastewater treatment.
Question for practice:
The problem of air pollution requires a multi-faceted solution. Critically analyse the steps taken to mitigate this issue. What additional steps do you suggest that can help tackle the issue?
