Answer

Introduction

Delhi consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. In winter, PM2.5 levels often exceed 20–25 times WHO safe limits, leading to severe public health, economic, and ecological impacts. According to AQLI 2023, air pollution shortens life expectancy in Delhi by 6.3 years. Tackling this requires multi-sectoral, multi-level governance aligned with National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) targets.

Body

Major Sources Contributing to Delhi’s Air Pollution and Seasonal Smog Intensification

• Biomass Burning: Combustion of dung cakes, firewood, and agricultural residue across NCR+ states traps pollutants in winter inversion layers.
  Eg: Crop residue burning in Punjab & Haryana contributes to significant PM 2.5 surge.
• Industrial Emissions: Coal-based thermal power plants and small-scale industries emit SO₂, NOₓ, and particulates, often exceeding permissible norms.
  Eg: Of NCR’s 12 coal plants, only 7 comply with MoEFCC’s 2015 standards due to FGD retrofit delays.
• Brick Kilns: Traditional clamp-kilns release black carbon and unburnt hydrocarbons; adoption of cleaner zigzag technology is uneven.
• Vehicular Emissions: A dense, ageing vehicle fleet and limited EV uptake worsen NOₓ and particulate loads.
• Municipal Solid Waste Burning: Inefficient segregation leads to landfill overflow and open burning, releasing dioxins and fine particulates.
• Untreated Sewage & Secondary Pollution: Unprocessed wastewater contaminates the Yamuna, enabling chemical reactions that form secondary aerosols.
• Stubble Burning: Post-harvest burning in adjoining states coincides with meteorological stagnation, intensifying smog.
  

Multi-Sectoral Strategies

Short-Term

• Targeted Biomass & Stubble Control: Deploy satellite monitoring and cash incentives for in-situ residue management to curb seasonal emissions.
  Eg: The PRANA Portal tracks stubble burning in real time, while subsidies for Happy Seeder machines under the Crop Residue Management Scheme help farmers avoid burning residues.
• Brick Kiln Modernisation Drive: Provide subsidies and low-interest loans for zigzag kiln adoption to cut fuel use and particulate emissions.
• Public Air Quality Dashboard: Ensure real-time air quality monitoring and public alerts to drive citizen-level action.
  Eg: NCAP’s monitoring network displays live AQI data on public boards and online platforms to guide citizen action during smog events.

Long-Term

• Sustainable Urban Transport: Long-term pollution control needs sustainable mobility via metro expansion, cycling tracks, and disincentives for private vehicle use.
• Industrial Decarbonisation: NCR Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must shift to cleaner fuels, renewables, and electrified processes to cut emissions and costs.
  Eg: The Perform, Achieve, Trade (PAT) Scheme under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency encourages energy-intensive industries to reduce emissions.
• Circular Economy Integration: Shifting from a linear “take–make–dispose” model to a circular economy with waste-to-energy, material recovery, and EPR cuts waste burning and landfill emissions.
• Urban Greening & Carbon Sinks: Expanding green cover via afforestation, biodiversity parks, and vertical gardens absorbs CO₂ and curbs urban dust resuspension.
• Public Behavioural Change: Long-term success hinges on public awareness, AQI monitoring, and citizen participation in waste segregation, car-pooling, and greening.

Conclusion

Delhi’s pollution crisis is not a localised issue but a regional environmental governance challenge. Solutions must integrate NCAP’s 20–30% PM2.5 reduction targets, CAQM enforcement, and citizen-led behavioural change. Economic growth without breathable air undermines human capital, productivity, and India’s sustainable development goals. A sustained science–policy–society partnership is essential for transforming Delhi into a clean, liveable city.

DOWNLOAD PDF