Health Alert: Delhi Air Quality Poses Serious Risks

Once the winter season sets in, Delhi-NCR’s air quality takes a huge hit with AQI levels crashing into the ‘poor’ category. Smog engulfed large swaths of the NCR, including Ghaziabad on Thursday morning, as the AQI stood at 246. With this upsurge in pollution levels, the Delhi government launched Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan to stop things from deteriorating further in the city air.

Delhi-NCR: Rising Air Pollution Levels

The Air Quality Index has been defined to grade the levels of air pollution concerning particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, among other pollutants. The CPCB says that the AQI categories vary from “good” with 0-50 to “severe” with the range of 401-500, above which it is considered harmful to human health.

The AQI in the Delhi-NCR region has been persistently categorized as “poor” for days now. For example, the pollution hotspot of Anand Vihar in Delhi has logged an AQI value surpassing 400, and the level of air quality is in the “severe” category on two consecutive days. On the basis of weather conditions and pollutants, the CPCB said that over the coming few days, it is going to degrade further and likely keep the air quality in the poor or worse category.

Implementing GRAP Stage 1 The Delhi government has activated GRAP Stage 1, which was enforced on Monday evening as the pollution level in the national capital began to deteriorate further. According to a statement from the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, GRAP is a set of emergency measures designed to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region, a four-tier system with progressively stringent measures that could be taken while increasing levels of pollution.

There are 116 teams of personnel that work during the day and an equal number working at night. Gross open garbage burning, among other activities, has been a part of GRAP Stage 1 implementation by enforcement of Delhi Chief Minister Atishi in a press conference asking citizens to cooperate in the decline of this air pollution and better the air quality in Delhi.

Supreme Court Criticizes Haryana’s Response to Pollution

The court, however, sounded tough on the Haryana government for not complying with its order on increasing levels of air pollution. Coming out with a stern warning, the Court also hinted that it may initiate contempt proceedings against the Chief Secretary of Haryana for not complying with its orders. The main issue is about the problem of stubble burning-being the main contributor to seasonal air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region-and the meager response to the violators.

Critical of the Haryana government’s soft approach to this issue, the Supreme Court said people picked burning crop residue were allowed to go away with some nominal levy leaving aside the authentic data of fire location provided by ISRO. The court wanted to know why punishing action was not being taken sternly especially when stubble burning has a critical impact on the quality of air in the region.

Delivering a stern censure, the court said it would ask the Central Authority for Quality Management to accord penal actions of immediate sanctions on the state officers, under Section 14 that empowers legal liabilities in case of failing to follow the guidelines for air quality management. The court also wanted the Chief Secretary, Sanjeev Kaushal, to appear before the court next Wednesday to explain why not sterner steps were taken against those violators, including the government officials who failed to enforce the anti-stubble burning laws effectively.

CAQM in the Dock

The Supreme Court’s harsh observations were not very sparing on the Commission for Air Quality Management, which it described as a “toothless tiger” as it failed to check the increasing air pollution in Delhi due to crop residue burning in Haryana and Punjab. The court asked the CAQM to assume a more assertive role in fighting pollution. A commission has been set up to address the air quality issues of Delhi-NCR. The commission has been attacked for not taking very definitive action, especially about stubble burning, which contributes greatly to winter air pollution.

The larger implication for this crisis is found in many facets.
Air pollution in Delhi-NCR is an annual issue at its worst peaks during the winter months as a combination of emissions from vehicles, industrial activities, construction dust, and the burning of crop residues by neighboring states elevates its level of concentration. Severe adverse effects on public health emanate from respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and precocious deaths, and these are most pronounced among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

Since the experts stated that it is a step in the right direction, only the implementation of GRAP Stage 1 would be an invaluable act for the people. Long-term resolution can only be achieved through concerted efforts of multiple states and stricter enforcement of anti-pollution measures. The role of the Supreme Court also brings out the urgency of the issue at hand but without measures like GRAP being implemented strictly across all sectors and states involved, air pollution would have continued to plague the region.

Conclusion

As Delhi-NCR prepares for its exacerbated air situation in the upcoming months, the introduction of GRAP Stage 1 is an important step to control pollution. However, neighboring states also have to play their role, especially in controlling stubble burning. The Supreme Court has put a wake-up call for stricter enforcement, and the coming days will only determine if that becomes a significant move toward improving air quality in the national capital.

Source: Central Pollution Control Board, Supreme Court

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