At a time when the state capital is outraged by reports of stubble burning near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), experts say seasonal measures are no match for the growing presence of particulate matter in the city air.
Traditionally, Bhopal’s battle against air pollution intensifies with the onset of winter, when AQI readings cross hazardous levels. Public outrage and policy attention follow—but this seasonal uproar conceals a more persistent threat: air pollution is not confined to winter. It is a year-round problem that needs continuous attention.
In winter, pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 become visibly menacing due to temperature inversion—a weather phenomenon where cold air near the ground gets trapped under a layer of warm air, preventing pollutants from dispersing. Smog settles over cities, turning skylines grey and filling hospital wards with patients suffering from respiratory issues.
In the summer months, the problem takes a different form. Dust storms and dry weather conditions raise PM10 levels. Simultaneously, intense sunlight triggers the formation of ground-level ozone—a colourless but highly toxic pollutant formed when sunlight reacts with emissions from vehicles and industries. Unlike smog, ozone does not form a visible haze, but it silently damages lungs, worsens asthma, and affects agricultural productivity. Yet it barely registers in public discourse.
This invisible layer of ozone also interferes with the body’s ability to synthesise vitamin D3 by blocking ultraviolet B rays. Doctors in the city are increasingly reporting vitamin D deficiency, especially among children and the elderly, leading to a rise in bone- and muscle-related health issues. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the issue often fails to attract sustained media coverage or political focus outside of winter.
The monsoon brings temporary respite, as rain washes out particulate matter. However, this relief is short-lived. As soon as the rains recede, stubble burning begins in neighbouring areas, worsening air quality even before winter sets in. The so-called pollution ‘seasons’ blend into one another—only the source and nature of pollutants vary.
Experts say that policy responses and public awareness must break out of their winter-centric mindset, as round-the-year air quality management is essential to reduce the health burden, protect vulnerable populations, and prevent winter air from becoming a recurring nightmare.
They note that many cities, including Bhopal, now have air quality monitoring stations run by the CPCB and respective State Pollution Control Boards, but lament that few enforce pollution control measures throughout the year.
Even if municipal officials profess commitment to year-round air quality measures, the streets present a different scene. There are no visible checks on vehicular emissions, wood and coal tandoors continue to be used rampantly at eateries and wedding venues, and incidents of stubble burning, like the one at AIIMS, persist. Measures, when taken, tend to be sporadic and lack the consistency needed to bring about lasting improvement.
District Pollution Control Officer Brijesh Sharma concurs, saying, “Action under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) should continue throughout the year to check pollutants at source, be they vehicular emissions or the use of solid fuels.”
If air pollution affects citizens every month, so must the response. As Sharma’s remark underscores, clean air demands consistent, round-the-year effort—not just when the skies turn grey, but also when the damage is silent, invisible and cumulative.