AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI

Introduction->
Air pollution is the presence of any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance in
the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious
to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or
environment. As of 2011, Delhi inhabitates approximately 16.3 million
people thus, becoming the second most populous city in India.
However, due to rapid development, Delhi is also facing serious
challenges in terms of air pollution.
According to a WHO survey and US-based Health Effects Institute in
August 2022, the air quality in Delhi is the worst of any major city in the
world. Air quality monitoring in Delhi is carried out through a number of
air quality monitoring stations situated across the territory. The
monitoring is undertaken by various organizations via Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) of
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
Reason for Delhi Air Pollution->
1. Delhi's pollution problem is caused by the factor of animal
agriculture, as smog and other harmful particles are produced by
farmers burning their crops in other states since the 1980s. About
80% of agriculturally used land is used for animal agriculture, so
animal agriculture can also be attributed as a factor in Delhi's air
pollution problem.
2. The excessive usage of cars and motorcycles are the pertinent
causes for rising vehicular pollution load. This leads to rising NO2
as well as particulate matter concentration.
3. In many of the industries, installed air pollution control devices
are found in idle conditions which lead to the emission of
pollutants directly into the atmosphere without any filtration.
Further, construction of short chimneys also restricts the polluting
gases to escape into the upper layers of the atmosphere.
 4. Apart from the vehicular, industrial emissions and agricultural
problems, local climatic and seasonal factors also affect the air
quality of Delhi. The winters are extremely important in Delhi as it
is dominated by cold, dry air, and ground based inversion with low
wind conditions, which are responsible for increasing
concentration of pollutants. Moreover, dense smog formation
during winter months has also been witnessed in Delhi, the reason
of which is vehicular pollution as well as the prevailing
meteorological conditions in the months of December and
January. Similarly, wind pattern also affects the weather
conditions.
Effects of poor air quality->
1. Effects on children- 2.2 million children in Delhi have irreversible
lung damage due to the poor quality of the air. Children are more
vulnerable to the negative effects of air pollution as they are
growing and developing which means that they breathe a higher
rate of air per kilogram of their body weight. They also spend
more time outside and are thus more exposed to it.
2. Effects on adults- Poor air quality is a cause of reduced lung
capacity, headaches, sore throats, coughs, fatigue, lung cancer,
and early death. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in case
the particulate matter is not controlled, the aerosols would work
as virus carriers/host in the rapid spread of the pandemic.
Control Measures Instituted by the Government of Delhi->
The nodal ministry for protecting the environment is the Ministry of
Environment and Forests at the Centre and the Department of
Environment of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The Central Pollution Control Board set up in 1974 under the Water Act
is the principal watchdog for carrying out the functions stated in the
environmental acts, implementation of National Air Quality Monitoring
Programme and other activities. The Delhi Pollution Control Board is the
body responsible at the state level.
 1. POLLUTION CHECKING BY TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT- Mobile
enforcement teams are being deployed on regular basis at road
locations for prosecution of polluting vehicles and vehicles not
having Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificates.
2. Public Awareness- Public awareness campaigns are conducted to
raise social consciousness on the issue and educate motorists
about the health hazards, statutory provisions and control
measures via. engine tuning and maintenance. 
3. Mass Rapid Transport System- Mass Rapid Transport System is
being constructed with the objective to place a non-polluting,
efficient and affordable rail-based mass rapid transit system.
4. PHASING OUT OF OLD COMMERCIAL VEHICLES- With a view to
reduce vehicular pollution in Delhi, Hon'ble Supreme Court has
banned the plying of following categories of vehicles in Delhi: -
a) More than 15 years old commercial/ transport vehicles.
b) Autos & Taxis driven on conventional fuels.
c) Diesel driven city buses.
Conclusion-> The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has
taken several steps to reduce the level of air pollution in the city during
the last 10 years. However, more still needs to be done to further
reduce the levels of air pollution. The already existing measures need to
be strengthened and magnified to a larger scale. Participation of the
community is crucial in order to make a palpable effect in the reduction
of pollution. The use of public transport needs to be promoted. People
need to be educated to switch-off their vehicles when waiting at traffic
intersections. The ever-increasing influx of migrants can be reduced by
developing and creating job opportunities in the peripheral and
suburban areas, and thus prevent further congestion of the already-
choked capital city of Delhi.
Health, as we all know, is an all-pervasive subject, lying not only within
the domains of the health department but with all those involved in
human development. Therefore, all those who play a role in modifying
the environment in any way, need to contribute to safeguard people's
health by controlling all those factors which affect it.