India’s severe air pollution crisis

Source: The post India’s severe air pollution crisis has been created, based on the article “How can traffic which causes air pollution be controlled?” published in “The Hindu” on 16th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-environment-pollution

Context: The article discusses India’s severe air pollution crisis, largely caused by road transport, especially heavy vehicles. It highlights existing and proposed measures, like CAFE norms and vehicle scrappage policies, and emphasizes the need for stricter enforcement and promotion of mass transit.

For detailed information on A Detailed Air Quality Management Plan in India read this article here

How Severe is Air Pollution in India?

1. India has 83 of the 100 most polluted cities in the world, showing a widespread air pollution problem.
2. Air pollution caused 2.1 million deaths in India, the second highest after China, according to the British Medical Journal.
3. Over 99% of the population breathes air that is below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standards.
4. Road transport accounts for 12% of India’s CO2 emissions, with heavy vehicles being major contributors.
5. Heavy vehicles are responsible for 60-70% of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 emissions and 40-50% of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions in urban areas.
6. PM2.5 can deeply penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, leading to severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
7. NOx emissions contribute to ground-level ozone, worsening air quality and heat, especially in cities.

What Measures Are Being Taken to Combat Air Pollution?

1. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Norms: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) introduced CAFE III and CAFE IV norms, to be implemented from 2027 to 2037, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from cars to 91.7g CO2/km and 70g CO2/km respectively.
2. Adoption of WLTP: India plans to shift to the World Light Duty Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP) by 2027, which provides a more accurate measure of fuel consumption and emissions.
3. Vehicle Scrappage Policy: Introduced in 2022, this policy aims to phase out old, polluting vehicles. It mandates fitness and emissions tests for vehicles older than 15-20 years, though its implementation is slow in states like Karnataka.
4. Incentives in Maharashtra: To encourage vehicle scrapping, Maharashtra offers discounts on road tax and new vehicle purchases, though the impact on air pollution remains limited.

What Should be Done?

1. Strengthen Implementation of Policies: Existing policies like regular vehicle emissions testing, banning open garbage burning, and industrial emission checks should be enforced with strictness to reduce pollution effectively.
2. Expand Vehicle Scrappage Program: The vehicle scrappage policy needs better implementation. In Karnataka, limited scrapyards and the voluntary nature of the program hinder its success. Expanding this policy nationwide with incentives can help phase out old, polluting vehicles.
3. Incorporate Heavy Vehicles in CAFE Norms: The CAFE norms currently exclude heavy vehicles. Including them can significantly reduce CO2, PM2.5, and NOx emissions since heavy vehicles are major contributors to urban air pollution.
4. Promote Mass Transit: Encouraging the use of mass transit systems is essential to sustainably reduce pollution from road transport.

Question for practice:

Discuss the impact of road transport, particularly heavy vehicles, on air pollution in India.