Delhi’s air quality has once again plunged into the ‘Very Poor’ category, marking the beginning of the dreaded annual pollution season

As the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 312 on October 21, 2024, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced the activation of Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, which came into effect from October 22. The city is bracing for several days of toxic air, with forecasts indicating that the AQI will remain in the ‘Very Poor’ range due to unfavourable climatic and meteorological conditions, such as calm winds and stagnant air. Over the years, Delhi has consistently struggled with air quality issues, particularly during the winter months when pollution levels spike to alarming levels. The problem intensifies due to a combination of factors including the burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states, construction dust, vehicular emissions and industrial activities. In previous years, the city witnessed severe smog days that not only disrupted daily life but also had long-lasting effects on public health. Efforts to curb pollution have included initiatives such as the implementation of the GRAP, which consists of a set of emergency measures that are triggered based on the severity of air quality. These measures have previously helped prevent air quality from worsening further, but the results have been mixed. While temporary improvements have been achieved, long-term solutions remain elusive. The annual nature of the problem indicates that past measures, though helpful, have not addressed the root causes effectively.

A significant contributor to Delhi’s poor air quality is the burning of crop residue in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana. Despite bans and incentives for alternative disposal methods, stubble burning remains a widespread practice due to economic and logistical challenges faced by farmers. Besides this vehicular emission and construction activities adds to the pollution. With the invocation of GRAP Stage 2, a range of measures will be implemented to tackle the escalating pollution levels: To reduce dust on roads, mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling will be conducted daily on identified roads. Besides, strict enforcement of dust control measures at construction and demolition sites will be carried out.The use of diesel generator sets will be discouraged, except for essential services. These actions will supplement the Stage 1 measures that have been in place since October 15, which include banning garbage burning, banning coal and firewood usage in hotels and restaurants, and imposing restrictions on brick kilns. Indeed, the ‘Very Poor’ air quality has serious implications for the health and wellbeing of Delhi’s residents. While GRAP provides a framework for emergency measures, long-term strategies are needed to bring about lasting improvements in air quality.  Without a comprehensive approach that combines policy interventions, technological innovations, and behavioural changes, the cycle of pollution will continue to haunt the city each year. Till that happens, Delhiites will have yet another season to breathe the polluted air.