Tackling the Air Pollution Crisis: A Call for Systemic Reform

  Editorial   Mar 7, 2025  Add to Reading List
Tackling the Air Pollution Crisis: A Call for Systemic Reform

As winter sets in, air pollution in Delhi and the Gangetic Plain escalates, worsened by stubble burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution. Despite government measures, crop residue burning continues to cause dangerous PM2.5 levels, especially during harvest. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights the ongoing pollution from local sources, particularly traffic. Contributing factors like congestion, inadequate public transportation, and limited clean energy investment necessitate urgent, comprehensive reforms to address the recurring pollution crisis and ensure lasting improvements in air quality.

Causes of Air Pollution in Delhi and the Gangetic Plain
  1. Stubble Burning in Northern India
    • Annual Practice: Crop-residue burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh is a major seasonal contributor to air pollution, especially during the harvest period.
    • Statistics: In 2024, Punjab accounted for 74% of stubble burning cases, with 296,670 incidents, followed by 50,242 in Madhya Pradesh.
    • Economic Constraints: Despite a decline in incidents, economic pressures and limited alternative practices continue to drive stubble burning, especially in Uttar Pradesh, which saw a 38% rise in 2024.
    • Contribution to Pollution: Stubble burning contributes 25-30% of Delhi's air pollution on peak days during October-November.
  2. Vehicle Emissions
    • Local Pollution Sources: Vehicles are responsible for a significant portion of Delhi’s pollution. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), transportation contributes 50.1% of local air pollution, which is 30.34% of Delhi's total pollution.
    • Emissions Data: Studies show vehicles account for 40% of PM2.5 emissions and 81% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in India.
    • Slow EV Adoption: The limited transition to electric vehicles and inadequate public transportation infrastructure continue to sustain high vehicular emissions.
    • Vehicle Production: In FY23, India produced 25.9 million vehicles, including the largest tractor and third-largest heavy truck outputs, further exacerbating pollution.
  3. Industrial Emissions
    • Coal-Based Power Plants: The power plants in Delhi NCR, particularly coal-powered plants, release significant amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), with only 5% of India’s coal plants equipped with sulfur emission control systems.
    • Relaxed Pollution Norms: Critically polluted industrial zones in Delhi-NCR often face relaxed enforcement of pollution norms, contributing to the region’s air quality problems, especially in winter.
    • Exacerbating Winter Haze: Industrial emissions, combined with weak regulatory enforcement, worsen the winter air pollution crisis.
  4. Construction and Urban Development
    • Dust Pollution: Ongoing urban construction activities in Delhi and neighboring states contribute 30% of PM10 and 8% of PM2.5 emissions, with inadequate dust management practices.
    • Lack of Mitigation Measures: Construction sites often fail to implement dust control measures such as anti-smog guns, which leads to higher particulate matter in the air, especially during winter when pollutant dispersion is hindered by weather conditions.
  5. Climatic Factors
    • Winter Weather Stagnation: Climate change has intensified atmospheric stagnation, particularly during winter, trapping pollutants in the air.
    • Inversion Layers: As temperatures drop, inversion layers form, preventing pollutants from dispersing. Calm winds across the Indo-Gangetic Plain also exacerbate the situation by limiting the movement of pollutants.
  6. Implementation Gaps in Air Quality Programs
    • Fund Utilization Issues: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has faced significant implementation gaps, with 68% of allocated funds remaining unutilized in Delhi alone. Other NCR cities like Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida show varying levels of fund utilization, with Noida using only 11%.
    • Policy Gaps: Ineffective execution of policies and underfunded air quality programs further contribute to the persistent pollution levels.
  7. High Air Quality Index (AQI) Levels
    • Hazardous Air Quality: Cities in Uttar Pradesh, such as Noida, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow, frequently experience hazardous AQI levels, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding national standards.
    • Pollution Hotspots: In 2023, cities like Patna recorded an average AQI of 332, and seven cities in Bihar were ranked among the top ten most polluted in India according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Challenges Posed by Air Pollution

  1. Violation of Constitutional Rights
    • Right to Life: Air pollution infringes upon Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life. Poor air quality undermines citizens’ right to a healthy environment, severely impacting their health and well-being.
    • Impact on SDG 3: Air pollution also contradicts Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which promotes good health and well-being, hindering global efforts toward sustainable development.
  2. Severe Health Impacts
    • Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases: High levels of PM2.5, particularly during winter in Delhi NCR and the Gangetic Plain, significantly increase the risk of respiratory and heart-related diseases.
    • Premature Deaths: Studies, such as one by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, estimate that air pollution in Delhi causes around 10,000 premature deaths annually.
    • Reduced Life Expectancy: According to the 2024 Air Quality Life Index by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), Delhi residents could lose 11.9 years of life expectancy due to high PM2.5 pollution, far exceeding WHO’s safe limits.
  3. Vulnerable Groups at Greater Risk
    • Health Risks for the Vulnerable: The elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of winter pollution, with rising cases of asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses.
  4. Reduced Visibility and Traffic Accidents
    • Dense Smog: The thick smog significantly reduces visibility to under 50 meters, leading to disruptions in transport and a higher incidence of road accidents, posing a severe safety risk.
  5. Economic Burden
    • High Economic Costs: Air pollution imposes a substantial economic cost, including healthcare expenses and lost productivity. According to the Clean Air Fund (CAF), it costs Indian businesses around USD 95 billion annually, or approximately 3% of India’s GDP.
  6. Loss of Education and Productivity
    • Disruption in Education: Poor air quality leads to school closures, especially during the winter, causing absenteeism and interruptions in children’s education. The Delhi government often has to shut schools for several days due to hazardous pollution levels.
    • Cognitive Impact: Air pollution has been shown to impair cognitive performance, which can result in long-term consequences for students’ learning outcomes, as reported by the Energy Policy Institute.

Measures Taken to Curb Air Pollution
1. Policy Interventions and Regulation

  • National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in 2019, the NCAP aims for a 40% reduction in PM10 levels by 2025-26 in 131 cities, with improvements seen in 88 cities by FY 2023.
  • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Managed by the CPCB, GRAP imposes stricter pollution control based on AQI levels, particularly in Delhi-NCR. Updated in 2022, it includes industry-specific directives for cleaner fuels and dust control.
  • Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP): Coordinated by the Delhi government, CAP tackles pollution through stricter vehicle emissions standards, enhanced industrial regulations, measures against stubble burning, construction site management, and public awareness.
  • CAAQMS (Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations): Real-time air quality data is collected across the country through automated stations, monitoring pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SO2, and CO to guide policy decisions and track progress.
  • Penalties for Stubble Burning: In November 2024, the government doubled fines for farmers burning crop residue in northern states to discourage the practice.
2. Vehicular Emissions Control
  • Bharat Stage Emission Standards 6 (BS-VI): BS-VI standards, implemented in April 2020, regulate vehicle emissions and fuel quality to curb vehicular pollution.
  • Alternative Fuels Initiatives: The FAME-II Scheme promotes electric vehicle adoption, while the SATAT Scheme supports the production of Compressed Biogas (CBG) to encourage the use of alternative fuels.
  • Expressways and Highway Development: New expressways and highway projects are designed to divert traffic from urban centers, helping reduce congestion and vehicular emissions in major cities.
3. Industrial Emission Standards
  • SO2 and NOx Limits for Power Plants: New emission standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have been set for thermal power plants. 56 industrial sectors now face stricter emission standards.
  • Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS): High-polluting sectors are required to install online monitoring systems, although full compliance remains a challenge.
  • Ban on Polluting Fuels: Pet coke and furnace oil have been banned in NCR states to combat coal-related emissions.
4. Measures to Curb Stubble Burning
  • Subsidies for Crop Residue Management: The government provides financial support for machinery that helps manage crop residue without burning. However, adoption has been slow due to limited incentives.
  • Crop Diversification: Encouraging the shift away from paddy cultivation in Punjab and Haryana is a key strategy to address the root cause of stubble burning.
  • Pelletization and Biomass Utilization: Financial assistance is available to convert stubble into pellets, a renewable fuel alternative for thermal plants.
  • Pusa Bio-decomposer: Since 2020, the Delhi government has used Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution, to break down paddy residue in 15-20 days, reducing stubble burning.
5. Indoor Air Quality Improvement Efforts
  • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): This initiative provides LPG connections to reduce dependence on solid fuels for cooking. However, 53% of households still engage in "fuel stacking," using both solid fuels and LPG.
  • Vehicle Retrofitting: Programs to retrofit older vehicles with emission control devices have been piloted, but wide adoption has been delayed due to cost constraints.

Road Ahead to Combat Air Pollution
1. Comprehensive Crop Residue Management

  • Direct Government Intervention: The government should take proactive steps to purchase crop residues from farmers at profitable prices. This approach would ensure the collection of all crop waste and incentivize its conversion into energy pellets, addressing both waste management and sustainable energy production.
  • Localized Pellet Production: Establish pellet conversion plants near agricultural markets (mandis) to reduce transportation costs. These plants would transform crop residues into biomass pellets, offering a sustainable energy solution while curbing the environmental damage caused by open-field burning.
2. Accelerated Transition to Clean Energy
  • Enhanced Renewable Energy Targets: India should strengthen its commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Expanding renewable energy projects, such as rooftop solar installations and green hydrogen initiatives, will help achieve this goal while reducing dependence on polluting fossil fuels.
3. Improved Industrial Emission Standards and Enforcement
  • Mandatory Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD): To tackle sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from coal-fired power plants, India should mandate the installation of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems at all coal plants. This proven approach, successfully used by countries like China, would significantly reduce industrial air pollution.
4. Modernized Urban Infrastructure
  • Urban Green Cover and Vertical Forests: Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore should incorporate green urban projects such as vertical forests, rooftop gardens, and expanded green spaces to mitigate urban heat islands and combat air pollution. Successful initiatives like Aarey Colony in Mumbai and Miyawaki afforestation can serve as models for future projects.
  • Green Building Mandates: Encouraging sustainable architecture through green building mandates, similar to Singapore’s Skyrise Greenery Incentive, can help reduce the carbon footprint of urban developments and improve air quality.
5. Strengthened Vehicular Emissions Control
  • Expanding Electric Vehicle (EV) Adoption: To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the government should invest in expanding EV infrastructure and provide tax incentives for EV owners. This will reduce vehicle emissions and contribute to cleaner urban air.
  • Congestion Pricing and Non-Motorized Transport: Implementing congestion pricing in high-pollution zones, inspired by London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, will help reduce traffic congestion and promote the use of cleaner transport options, while encouraging the development of non-motorized transport systems (like cycling and walking).
6. Technological and Data-Driven Air Quality Management
  • Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring and Data Accessibility: Expanding the network of air quality monitoring stations will allow for real-time, granular data, enabling more effective policymaking and public awareness of pollution levels.
  • AI-based Solutions: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for pollution forecasting, along with IoT-enabled pollution sensors, can provide accurate, continuous monitoring and prediction of air quality. This will enable proactive, data-driven measures to address air pollution in a targeted and timely manner.

Key Takeaways
To address the ongoing air pollution crisis in Delhi and across India, a comprehensive and systemic approach is crucial. The government must play a key role by purchasing agricultural residue and converting it into biomass pellets for energy production, thus curbing stubble burning. Achieving this requires strong political commitment, collaboration across sectors, and long-term investments in clean energy and public transportation infrastructure. Only through a sustained, coordinated effort can we achieve cleaner air, improved public health, and a more sustainable, eco-friendly future for India.