Delhi is increasingly being seen as an uninhabitable city due to its extreme pollution levels in winters and unbearable heat waves in summers. Both of these factors disproportionately affect the city’s marginalized populations.

Understanding Delhi’s Air Quality

What is Air Quality Index (AQI)?

• The AQI is a measure of the concentration of eight pollutants, including:
  • Particulate matter (PM)10 and PM2.5
  • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
  • Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3)
  • Ammonia (NH3), and Lead (Pb)
• AQI is calculated using sub-indices for each pollutant, with the highest sub-index determining the overall AQI for a location.

PM2.5: The Major Culprit

• PM2.5 is a fine particulate matter 30 times thinner than human hair, capable of traveling deep into the lungs.
• It is the primary pollutant dominating Delhi’s AQI, especially during winter.

How Uninhabitable is Delhi?

AQI Over the Years

• A seven-year analysis (2017-2023) shows:
  • Delhi experiences only two days of healthy air annually.
  • Over 50% of the year, the air quality is unfit for breathing.
  • Even during the lockdown year (2020), air quality showed only marginal improvement.

Disproportionate Impact on the Poor

• Poor communities are more vulnerable to pollution due to lack of access to healthcare and resources.

Why is Delhi’s Air Quality So Poor?

The Stubble Burning Debate

• The government blames stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• During peak stubble burning days, its contribution to Delhi’s PM2.5 ranges from 15-35%.
• Even without stubble burning, AQI remains in the “very poor” category, suggesting systemic issues beyond stubble burning.

Major Contributors to Pollution

• Local Sources (Chart 3):
  • 50% of PM2.5 pollution in winter is due to Delhi’s own emissions.
  • Vehicles contribute 58%, with 34% from exhaust and 24% from tyre/brake wear.
• Meteorological Factors:
  • Cold air traps pollutants near the ground.
  • Low wind speeds and absence of rain exacerbate pollution levels.

Seasonal Variation in Pollution

Why are Winters Worse?

• Cold air prevents pollutants from dispersing.
• Slow wind speeds and lack of rainfall worsen the concentration of PM2.5.

Factors that Improve Air Quality

• Higher wind speeds (February-June) help disperse pollutants.
• Rainfall (July-September) reduces airborne particulate matter by forcing it to the ground.

Impact of Pollution on Health

Health Effects of Pollution

• The World Health Organization (WHO) states that air pollution can affect almost every organ in the body.
• Fine particulates like PM2.5 can enter the bloodstream and cause:
  • Systemic inflammation
  • Increased risk of cancer

Death Rates Due to Pollution

• A study in The Lancet Planet Health (2019):
  • 1.67 million deaths in India were attributable to pollution.
  • 1 in 10 deaths were caused by ambient particulate matter pollution.
• Delhi’s death rate from PM pollution exceeds the Indian average.

Class Disparity in Pollution Exposure

• Poor children  from a low-income neighborhood, face significantly higher exposure to PM2.5 compared to affluent children
• Long-term exposure shortens life expectancy by up to five years for poorer children compared to their wealthier peers.

Current Measures and Their Limitations

Short-Term Measures by the Delhi Government

• Odd-even vehicle schemes to reduce traffic emissions.
• Use of water sprinklers to settle dust.
• Campaigns like “Red Light On, Gaadi Off.”

Efforts by the Central Government

• Distribution of masks.
• Shifting blame to the Delhi government rather than taking proactive steps.

Why Current Efforts Fall Short

• Measures are largely symbolic and ineffective in addressing systemic issues.
• Lack of coordination between state and central governments hampers progress.

Long-Term Solutions for Delhi’s Pollution Crisis

Reducing Vehicle Emissions

• Transition from private vehicles to public transport powered by clean energy.
• Improved last-mile connectivity to encourage public transport use.

Enhancing Public Infrastructure

• Expansion of Delhi Metro and other public transit systems.
• Implementation of electric buses and vehicles.

Sustainable Urban Planning

• Reducing construction dust by enforcing strict guidelines.
• Promoting green spaces to improve air quality.

Tackling Industrial Emissions

• Shifting industries to cleaner technologies.
• Relocating polluting industries away from residential areas.

Addressing Agricultural Emissions

• Providing alternatives to stubble burning, like Happy Seeders.
• Financial incentives for farmers to adopt eco-friendly practices.

The Way Forward

Political Will and Coordination

• Cooperation between central and state governments is crucial.
• Pollution control must be treated as a national priority.

Raising Public Awareness

• Educating citizens on the health impacts of pollution.
• Encouraging community participation in clean-air initiatives.

International Best Practices

• Learning from cities like Beijing, which significantly improved its air quality through stringent regulations.

Conclusion

Delhi’s pollution crisis is not just an environmental issue but also a public health emergency. Calling Delhi a “gas chamber” is not an exaggeration. Without bold actions and systemic reforms, the city risks becoming increasingly uninhabitable for its residents. It is time for all stakeholders—governments, industries, and citizens—to work together and prioritize sustainable solutions for Delhi’s future.