Apathy in the Air: Addressing Delhi’s Pollution Crisis (GS Paper 3, Environment)
Introduction
- Delhi’s persistent air pollution crisis raises critical questions: Is the problem truly as insurmountable as it has been portrayed by policymakers, or is it a result of poor policy decisions and lack of effective action?
- This paradox holds the key to understanding the apparent apathy towards the pollution crisis in Delhi and, by extension, across India.
- Despite the ongoing environmental disaster, the response from authorities has often been inadequate, raising concerns about the true reasons behind the city’s persistent air quality issues.
- The real answers to these questions will help uncover why, despite the worsening air quality, there is so little urgency in addressing the root causes of pollution.
The Causes of Pollution
The sources of Delhi’s pollution are manifold and complex, reflecting a combination of urban and regional factors. The city's air quality suffers from a range of pollutants that originate from multiple sectors:
- Vehicle Emissions: One of the largest contributors to Delhi’s air pollution is particulate matter (PM) emitted from the tailpipes of millions of vehicles. The city’s congested roads and the high number of diesel-powered vehicles exacerbate this problem.
- Waste and Biomass Burning: The burning of waste, crop stubble, and biomass in Delhi and surrounding areas, especially during the winter months, significantly worsens the air quality. Farm fires in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana release vast amounts of smoke that contribute to the formation of smog.
- Industrial Emissions: Industrial activity in and around Delhi, including power plants, brick kilns, and manufacturing units, adds another layer of harmful emissions to the air.
- Geography: Delhi’s geographical location, combined with meteorological conditions, also plays a role in trapping pollutants. During the colder months, the air is more likely to stagnate, preventing pollutants from dispersing and leading to higher concentrations of harmful particles.
While all these factors contribute to the air quality crisis, the solutions are often too fragmented and uncoordinated, exacerbating the problem.
Working in Silos Will Not Help
- One of the main obstacles in tackling Delhi’s air pollution is the lack of coordinated action across various levels of government and institutions.
- Despite the evident urgency, the issue is often addressed in a piecemeal fashion by different stakeholders working in silos.
- Each winter brings a recurring battle between the Delhi government and the Union government, with both pointing fingers at each other for failing to take responsibility.
- This blame-shifting pattern subsides as the weather improves, only for the same problem to re-emerge the following year.
- This seasonal approach is inadequate, and as a result, the city is left with patchwork solutions that fail to address the long-term nature of the pollution crisis.
- Rather than focusing on emergency measures during peak pollution periods, there is a pressing need for year-round solutions.
- Policies and strategies to reduce pollution must be implemented consistently throughout the year, not just in response to short-term smog spikes.
The “Severe” Pollution Level and a Patchwork Solution
- Delhi regularly experiences pollution levels deemed hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO), especially during the winter months when particulate matter levels spike.
- In response, the Supreme Court has issued directives for both the Delhi and Union governments to take more decisive action.
- However, it is increasingly clear that the “emergency mode” of intervention is ineffective in providing a sustainable solution to Delhi's air quality issues.
- The annual focus on emergency measures such as shutting down industries or halting construction activities, while necessary in the short term, cannot address the root causes of pollution.
- More importantly, such ad hoc measures do not create long-lasting impact.
- True solutions will require holistic and sustained interventions that extend beyond immediate crises.
Study Points: Different Causes of Pollution and Potential Solutions
A growing body of research has been dedicated to understanding the sources of Delhi’s air pollution and identifying effective solutions. Various studies, including those by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), IIT Delhi, and the National Institute of Advanced Studies, have provided valuable insights into the major contributors to air pollution:
- Public Transport and Cleaner Commuting: One of the primary solutions emphasized by researchers is the promotion of cleaner commuting options. Reducing the number of private vehicles and increasing the use of public transport can have a significant impact on lowering vehicle emissions.
- Green Cooking Fuels: A switch to cleaner cooking fuels, such as LPG or electricity, could also reduce indoor and outdoor pollution from biomass burning, especially in lower-income households.
- Industrial Scrutiny: Stricter regulations and monitoring of industrial emissions are essential to ensure that factories and power plants contribute less to air pollution.
While much of this research has provided the necessary insights into the causes of pollution, the critical question remains: Why has this information not translated into action? Despite years of research and mounting evidence on the sources of pollution, there is no significant long-term improvement in air quality. This is due, in part, to policy inaction and a lack of effective implementation of these strategies.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
- In 2021, the government set up the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), tasked with coordinating pollution control efforts across various agencies.
- The commission’s formation was a positive step toward tackling air pollution in a more coordinated manner.
- However, its primary role so far has been to oversee emergency measures rather than to spearhead long-term policy solutions.
- The airshed approach, which emphasizes tackling pollution on a regional scale, is a critical strategy that the CAQM and other agencies need to adopt.
- Pollution is not confined to Delhi’s borders; it is a regional problem, and addressing it effectively requires collaboration between neighboring states.
- Yet, much of the policy focus remains limited to urban Delhi, with little cross-state coordination.
- Another major challenge is that air pollution has not become a political priority.
- Despite the clear health risks associated with poor air quality, the issue rarely features prominently in election campaigns or political debates.
- As a result, policymakers are often not held accountable for their inaction, leading to a lack of urgency in addressing the problem.
Conclusion: Policy Deficit and the Need for Action
- To tackle the air pollution crisis in Delhi, the issue must be elevated to the level of political significance.
- The problem will not be solved unless it becomes a central issue in electoral debates, compelling policymakers to act.
- Comprehensive air quality management, which involves all stakeholders—including the Delhi government, Union government, neighboring states, and environmental agencies—must replace the current fragmented approach.
- Moreover, there needs to be clear accountability for the failure to implement effective policies.
- A robust and transparent air quality management framework, focused on long-term strategies and consistent action, is the only way to bring meaningful change to Delhi’s air quality and, by extension, to the health and well-being of its residents.
- The continued apathy towards the issue is not just a political failure; it is a public health crisis that demands urgent attention.
