Exploring the Air Pollution Landscape of Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR) in India

Introduction

With continued ‘severe plus’ air pollution across the Delhi – National Capital Region (NCR), the Delhi government implemented the fourth phase of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on November 5th, 2023. Apart from the provisions of GRAP stage 4, provisions of stages 1,2, and 3 will continue to remain in effect.

About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• It is a?set of emergency measures?that implemented to prevent further deterioration of air quality and control air pollution once?it reaches a certain threshold?in the Delhi – NCR region.
• It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and notified in 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Since 2021, GRAP is being implemented by the?Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

An?Air Quality Index (AQI)?is a number used by?government agencies?to measure the?air pollution levels?and communicate?it to the population. As the AQI increases, it means that a?large percentage of the population will experience severe adverse?health effects.

About Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• It was established in 2020 to implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP, doing since 2021).
• It is a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
• It succeeded Central Government constituted committee - Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA, since 1998), which was constituted on the Supreme Court‘s judgement in ‘M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India (1988) case.
• CAQM relies on air quality and?meteorological forecasts?by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)?and India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• It is composed of over 20 members with a full – time chairperson heading it, along with full – time members, NGO members, ex – officio members, Ex – officio technical members and associate members; with expert from CPCB, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and civil society being the part of members of the commission.

• Powers:

1. In matters of air pollution and air quality management, CAQM supersede all existing bodies?such as Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and even the state governments of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It will have the?powers to issue directions to the states.
2. It coordinates efforts of state governments?to curb air pollution, and will?lay down the parameters of air quality?for the region.
3. It will have?powers to restrict the setting up of industries?in vulnerable areas, and will be able to conduct?site inspections?of industrial units.
4. If its?directions are contravened, CAQM will have the?power to impose a fine of up to INR 1 crore and imprisonment of up to 5 years.

• National Green Tribunal (NGT) role: Only, NGT and?not civil courts,?is?authorised to hear cases?where the Commission is involved.

Reasons of Winter Pollution in Delhi

• In brief, apart from the other pollution which are due to overpopulation, vehicular emissions and industries, following are the factors that make winter pollution severe:

1. Stubble Burning:?It is a traditional practice in Punjab and Haryana to clean off the rice chaff to prepare the fields for winter sowing.
2. Shifting of Jet Stream:?The southward shift of subtropical jet stream happens causing a westward wind pattern in the northern part of India and thus spread of pollutants.
3. Stagnant Lower Level Winds:?As the winter season sets in, dust particles and pollutants in the air become unable to move. Due to?stagnant lower level winds,?pollutants get locked in the air and affect weather conditions, resulting in?smog.

Conclusion

• According to some experts, CAQM is a lost opportunity to explicitly set the ground rules for an air – shed based approach, which may be later expanded to other polluted areas across the country.
• Legal and regulatory changes to tackle public issues like air pollution, need a?democratic conceptualisation/cooperative federalism.
• There is a need for?massive augmentation of intra – city public transport,?and to move industries, power plants and other users away from polluting fuels like coal to natural gas, electricity and renewable energy to ensure clean combustion.
• Social schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)?can be expanded for harvesting and composting of stubble will help to resolve the dual problem of unemployment and stubble burning. Thus, stopping the burning of crop residue will aid the?National Clean Air Programme?(NCAP), which aims to reduce pollution by 20-30% in annual PM concentration by 2024.
• In the long-term,?shifting the?cropping pattern?away from paddy to maize, cotton, fruits or vegetables in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh is required.
• In addition, the government should undertake?a thorough review?of the various laws and institutions in order to look at their efficacy and utility; it must have?detailed consultation?with all relevant stakeholders, especially those outside Delhi, which includes farmers’ groups and small scale industries and the public at large.

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981?

• This act was a law passed by the Parliament of India?to prevent and control the harmful effects of air pollution in India.
• The act was enacted in line to implement the decisions taken at United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm (1972).
• The?main objectives were to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control, and abate air pollution in the country.
• This act is seen as the first concrete step taken by Central Govt. to combat air pollution.
• The Air Act’s framework is?similar?to that of the?Water Act of 1974.
• It also expanded the authority of the central (CPCB) and respective state pollution control boards (SPCBs) established under the Water Act, to include air pollution control.
• Under the provisions of the act, the?states?are required to prescribe emission standards for industry and automobiles after consulting the CPCB and noting its ambient air quality standards.
• The Section 2(a)?defines an ‘air pollutants’?as any solid liquid or gaseous substance which may cause harm or damage the environment, humans, plants, animals, or even damage property.
• The 1987 amendment to the act also added?‘noise’ to the list of harmful substances and also empowered CPCB and SPCBs to close a defaulting industrial plant.

Initiatives taken for controlling Air Pollution

• Following are some of the initiatives taken for controlling the air pollution:

1. System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Portal: It is a national initiative introduced by the?Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)?to measure the air quality of a metropolitan city, by measuring the overall pollution level and the location-specific air quality of the city.
2. Air Quality Index (AQI) It has been developed for 8 pollutants viz. PM2.5, PM10, ammonia, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.
3. Graded Response Action Plan?(GRAP) (for Delhi).
4. For Reducing Vehicular Pollution:

1) Bharat Stage (BS) – VI Vehicles,

2) Push for Electric Vehicles (EVs),

3) Odd-Even Policy?as an emergency measure (for Delhi).

5. New Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was established

6. Subsidy to farmers for buying?Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Machine?for reducing stubble burning.

7.?National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP):?Under NAMP, 4 air pollutants viz. sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10, and PM2.5 have been identified for regular monitoring at all locations.

Imposition of GRAP 4 Stage in Delhi - NCR Region: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/grap-4-imposed-in-delhi-curbs-in-place-on-diesel-vehicles-c-d-activity-101699206401394.html

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoing Areas: https://caqm.nic.in/

To understand the health and economic impacts of air pollution in Delhi: https://www.ncaer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCAER-WP-144-January-2023.pdf

Exploring airshed management as a solution to India’s pollution woes: https://india.mongabay.com/2023/09/exploring-airshed-management-as-a-solution-to-indias-pollution-woes/