NEWS

The average contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s PM2.5 level in November was 14.6%, according to data from the government-run monitoring agency SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research).

AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities, that features largely in the top 50 polluted cities of the world according to many parameters.

CAUSES

• Increasing population and related developmental activities
• Unplanned development and industrialization units
• Increased vehicular traffic (which has not come down despite the Delhi metro)
• Piling up of solid waste
• Large scale construction activities lead to increased dust pollution
• Landlocked geography of Delhi
  • north-westerly winds coming from Rajasthan, sometimes Pakistan and Afghanistan bring in the dust to the region
  • The Himalayas obstruct the escape route of the air. This causes the dust and pollutants to settle in the region.
• Stubble burning – During the winter months, the large scale stubble burning practised in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan cause a thick blanket of smog to cover Delhi-NCR.
• Firecrackers, although not the top reason for air pollution, also contributes to the problem.

HOW SERIOUS IS STUBBLE BURNING : According to a study, the burning of crop residue released about 149 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than 9 million tonnes of carbon monoxide, 0.25 million tonnes of oxides of sulphur (SOX), 1.28 million tonnes of particulate matter (PM) and 0.07 million tonnes of black carbon. As evident, it contributes to a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.

SYSTEM OF AIR QUALITY AND WEATHER FORECASTING AND RESEARCH – SAFAR

• 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.
• Indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and is operationalized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Giant true color LED display that gives out real-time air quality index on a 24×7 basis with color-coding (along with 72 hours advance forecast).
• Integral part of India’s first Air Quality Early Warning System operational in Delhi.
• Monitors all weather parameters like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, UV radiation, and solar radiation.
• Pollutants monitored: PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, and Mercury