World Health Organisation (WHO) declared on May 7, 2014 that Delhi is the most polluted city in the world when it comes to air quality. The national capital has the highest concentration of particulate matters less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5), which is known to have serious health consequences. WHO pegged average annual mean PM 2.5 level at 153 micrograms per cubic metre compared to 56 micrograms per cubic metre for Beijing. PM 10 concentrations of 286 micrograms is also much more than the permissible limits.
Air pollution related diseases increase during winters. “We have been tracking the air quality data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and with the onset of winters, the pollution levels gallop,” says Ms. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director - Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment. And the increasing number of patients occupying the hospital beds in Delhi is testimony to this fact.
But there is still a percentage of us surviving in this poisonous environment. So the question now arises, how are we surviving this polluted air? Dr. Anil Bansal, Chief Medical Officer of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) explains that human beings have become immune to air pollution.
Significance of CNG Vehicles in Delhi
The first generation action had improved the emission standards road map. However, Delhi has lost the gains made in the few years after the introduction of the CNG programme. 2008 onwards the air became polluted once again, bringing back the pre-CNG days when diesel-driven buses and autos had made it one of the most polluted cities on earth.
In 2001, the annual average level of respirable suspended particulate matter in residential areas stood at 149 microgram per cubic metre and registered a drop in 2005. Nevertheless, the level shot up to 209 microgram per cubic metre in 2008.
In spite of all the actions taken to reduce air pollution levels in Delhi, it has been on the rise. This could be attributed to the increasing number of vehicles. Currently, the city adds over 1,000 new personal vehicles each day on its roads, which is almost double of what was added in the city in pre-CNG days.
This form of concentration consists of tiny particles that put people at additional risk of respiratory diseases and other health problems, the World Health Organization said.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
The AQI is an index for the quality of air we breathe. AQI helps one to understand what local air quality means to their health. AQI is divided into six categories and the table below will make it simpler for your understanding.
The AQI in most parts of Delhi mostly remains poor in the day time and becomes very poor or unhealthy during late night and early morning hours. This could be attributed to increase in pollution levels with decrease in temperatures. Here’s a look at the AQI of various places in the National Capital in peak of winters.
Relentless social activism is essential to educate people to switch to eco-friendly methods of celebration. In several parts of the country, craftsmen have started using eco-friendly materials and organic paints to make idols. For instance, the idol makers in Kumartuli, the nerve centre of idol makers in Kolkata, took steps this year to check toxic waste levels by using paints devoid of lead, mercury and chromium to embellish the idols. Clay idols instead of the PoP ones are also getting their share of popularity.
Spreading the message of civic sense might help to curb or at least limit the pollution levels. Each and every citizen of the country need to get their social act together before blaming local administrators and civic amenities for the rising pollution. We as ‘law abiding citizens’ should also take initiatives to cooperate with the government. If you have better ways of protecting the environment and saving our Mother Earth, you are most welcome to go ahead and spread the message.