Alarming Situation of Air Pollution in Delhi

Each winter, air pollution in Delhi and the Gangetic Plain reaches critical levels, driven by stubble burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollutants. Although the government has taken steps, stubble burning continues to be a significant contributor to PM2.5 surges during the harvest season.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights ongoing pollution from local sources, particularly vehicular emissions, despite measures such as the CNG program and phasing out old vehicles. Further exacerbated by traffic congestion, strained public transportation, and inadequate investments in clean energy, this air quality crisis requires transformative, systemic reforms to break the annual pollution cycle and ensure healthier air quality.

Causes of Air Pollution in Delhi and the Gangetic Plain

• Stubble Burning in Northern India: The annual burning of crop residue in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh is a major contributor to seasonal air pollution spikes. Of the 400,461 stubble-burning incidents across six states in 2024, Punjab accounted for 296,670 cases (74%), followed by Madhya Pradesh with 50,242 cases. While there has been a decrease in these incidents overall in 2024, economic limitations and a lack of viable alternatives continue to drive the practice. According to a study by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Uttar Pradesh saw a 38% increase in stubble burning in September-October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. During peak days in October and November, stubble burning contributes 25-30% to Delhi’s air pollution.
• Vehicle Emissions: According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), local sources account for 30.34% of Delhi’s air pollution, with transportation contributing 50.1% of this pollution. Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, The Energy Research Institute, and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology-SAFAR show that vehicles contribute 40% of PM2.5 emissions and 81% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in India. In FY23, India produced 25.9 million vehicles, including the world’s highest tractor and third-highest heavy truck production. The slow adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and limited public transport options contribute to sustained high emission levels.
• Industrial Emissions: Power plants in the Delhi-NCR region, particularly coal-based ones, are significant sources of SO2 and NOx emissions, with only 5% of India’s coal plants equipped with sulfur emission control systems. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified critically polluted industrial clusters in the Delhi-NCR area, which often receive relaxed pollution norms, worsening air quality. Combined with lax enforcement, industrial emissions are a major factor in the region’s persistent pollution.
• Construction and Urban Development: Urban construction activities, ongoing year-round in Delhi and surrounding states, contribute approximately 30% of PM10 and 8% of PM2.5 emissions, as per the 2019 London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. Dust control at construction sites remains inadequate, with many failing to use anti-smog guns, which contributes to high particulate levels. These effects are particularly severe in winter when weather conditions trap pollutants close to the ground.
• Climatic Factors: Climate change has intensified winter atmospheric stagnation, exacerbated by unseasonal October rains, which trap pollutants. As winter progresses, a temperature inversion layer forms, which prevents pollutants from dispersing, while calm winds in the Indo-Gangetic Plain further restrict pollutant movement.
• Implementation Gaps: A recent report by the Environment Ministry to the National Green Tribunal highlights major gaps in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) implementation. In Delhi, for instance, 68% of allocated funds remain unused. Among NCR cities, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida have varied fund utilization rates, with Noida at only 11%.
• High AQI Levels: Cities in Uttar Pradesh, such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, and Luck now, often record hazardous air quality, with PM2.5 levels exceeding national standards. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2023 indicated that Patna had an average AQI of 332, with seven cities in Bihar ranking among the top 10 most polluted cities in India that year.

Challenges posed by Air Pollution

Violation of Constitutional Rights: Air pollution infringes upon Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, as poor air quality denies citizens a healthy environment, affecting their health, well-being, and quality of life. It also contravenes Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), hindering global efforts towards sustainable development.

Severe Health Impacts: During winter, air pollution in Delhi NCR and the Gangetic Plain leads to elevated levels of PM2.5, which significantly increases the prevalence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. According to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, air pollution in Delhi alone causes roughly 10,000 premature deaths each year. Additionally, the 2024 Air Quality Life Index report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) indicates that Delhi residents could lose up to 11.9 years of life expectancy due to elevated PM2.5 levels, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limits.

Increased Risk for Vulnerable Groups: The elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly affected by winter pollution, with studies showing a rise in cases of asthma and lung cancer among these groups.

Reduced Visibility and Traffic Accidents: Dense smog often reduces visibility to less than 50 meters, leading to transportation disruptions and a heightened risk of road accidents.

Economic Costs: The economic impact of air pollution, including healthcare expenses and lost productivity, is considerable. According to the Clean Air Fund (CAF), air pollution costs Indian businesses approximately USD 95 billion annually, or 3% of the country’s GDP.

Loss of Education and Productivity: Poor air quality frequently leads to school closures and absenteeism, particularly among children, affecting education. Each winter, the Delhi government is often forced to close schools for several days due to severe pollution levels. Additionally, a study by EPIC found that air pollution can impair cognitive performance, resulting in long-term effects on learning outcomes.

Policy Interventions and Regulations:

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in 2019, NCAP aims to achieve a 40% reduction in PM10 levels by 2025-26 across 131 cities. By FY 2023, 88 cities had shown improvement under this initiative.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), GRAP mandates stricter pollution controls based on AQI levels, especially in Delhi-NCR. Revised in 2022, it includes directives for industries to adopt cleaner fuels and requires dust control protocols.

Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP): The Delhi government’s CAP, in collaboration with multiple departments, addresses air pollution by enhancing vehicular emissions standards, regulating industries, managing stubble burning, improving construction dust management, and promoting public awareness.

Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS): Automated CAAQMS stations monitor real-time air quality across India, tracking pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SO2, and CO. These data-driven insights support policy decisions and measure progress in pollution control.

Increased Penalties: In November 2024, the central government doubled fines for farmers in northern states found burning crop residue to help curb pollution.

Vehicular Emissions Control:

Bharat Stage (BS) VI Standards: Launched in April 2020, BS-VI standards enforce stricter controls on fuel quality and vehicle emissions to reduce pollution from transportation.

Alternative Fuel Promotion: The FAME-II Scheme promotes electric vehicle adoption, while the SATAT Scheme encourages Compressed Biogas (CBG) production as a cleaner fuel alternative.

Expressways and Highway Projects: New highways divert traffic from major urban areas to alleviate congestion and reduce emissions in cities.

Industrial Emission Standards:

Thermal Power Plant Regulations: New SO2 and NOx emission limits apply to thermal power plants, and 56 industrial sectors now face stricter standards. High-pollution industries must implement Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS), though compliance remains incomplete.

Coal-Related Emission Control: Pet coke and furnace oil are banned in NCR states to limit coal-related pollution.

Measures to Curb Stubble Burning:

Subsidies for Crop Residue Management: Financial support for machinery encourages alternatives to crop residue burning, although adoption remains limited due to insufficient incentives.

Crop Diversification: Efforts to reduce paddy cultivation in Punjab and Haryana target the root cause of stubble burning.

Pelletization and Biomass Utilization: Financial aid supports turning stubble into renewable fuel pellets, which thermal plants can use instead of coal. Since 2020, Delhi has also used Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution that decomposes paddy residue in 15-20 days, to curb stubble burning within the city.

Indoor Air Quality Improvement Efforts:

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): This initiative provides LPG connections to reduce reliance on solid fuels, though 53% of households continue “fuel stacking,” using solid fuels alongside LPG.

Retrofitting Emission Control Devices: Pilots for retrofitting older vehicles with emission control devices have been introduced, but widespread adoption faces delays due to cost constraints.

Roadmap for Combatting Air Pollution:

Comprehensive Crop Residue Management:

• Direct Government Intervention: The government should actively purchase crop residues from farmers at fair prices, ensuring effective collection and providing incentives to convert the waste into pellets for energy production. This approach addresses waste disposal challenges while promoting cleaner energy solutions.
• Localized Pellet Production: Establishing pellet production plants near agricultural markets (mandis) would cut transportation costs, making biomass energy production more affordable. These plants would convert crop residues into energy-efficient pellets, offering a sustainable alternative to open-field burning.

Accelerated Transition to Clean Energy:

• Enhanced Renewable Energy Goals: India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 should be bolstered with expanded renewable projects, including rooftop solar installations and green hydrogen initiatives.

Improved Industrial Emission Standards and Enforcement:

• Mandatory Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD): To curb sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions, installing FGD systems in all coal-fired plants should be mandatory. Following China’s successful implementation of this approach could help India make significant progress in managing industrial pollution.

Modernized Urban Infrastructure:

• Urban Green Cover and Vertical Forests: Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore should increase urban green projects, such as vertical forests, rooftop gardens, and expanded green spaces, to mitigate urban heat islands and reduce air pollution. Projects like Mumbai’s Aarey Colony and the Miyawaki afforestation approach offer successful models.
• Green Building Requirements: Integrating sustainable building practices, as demonstrated by Singapore’s Skyrise Greenery Incentive, can significantly reduce the environmental impact of new urban developments.

Strengthened Vehicular Emission Control:

• Promoting Electric Vehicles (EVs): Expanding EV infrastructure and offering tax benefits to EV owners will speed up the transition to cleaner transport options across India.
• Congestion Pricing and Non-Motorized Transport: Introducing congestion pricing, similar to London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, can help reduce traffic in high-pollution areas, encouraging the use of cleaner transportation methods.

Technological and Data-Driven Air Quality Management:

• Improved Air Quality Monitoring and Data Access: Expanding networks for real-time air quality monitoring will enable authorities to make informed, data-driven decisions.
• AI-Driven Solutions: AI-based pollution forecasting and IoT-enabled sensors offer precise pollution predictions and continuous monitoring, supporting proactive and targeted responses to manage air quality effectively

To address the recurring air pollution crisis in Delhi and other parts of India, a comprehensive, systemic approach is crucial. The government must assume responsibility for purchasing crop waste and converting it into biomass pellets for thermal plants, which will help reduce stubble burning. This solution requires strong political will, effective coordination, and long-term investments in clean energy and public transportation. A sustained, integrated effort will lead to cleaner air, improved public health, and a greener, more sustainable future for India.

The End of the Blog: Alarming Situation of Air Pollution in Delhi