Ranked as the most polluted city in the world, hope of decline in the trend of rising levels of pollution across the national Capital appears bleak. Even the recent anti-firecrackers campaigns failed to change the quality of Delhi’s air which has been recorded with high Particulate Matter (PM) in the last few weeks.
The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has predicted dry weather in the coming days, adding to the worry as no rainfall would lead to continuous presence of the suspended Particulate Matter (SPM).
However, to deal with this hazardous threat, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), environmentalists, and scientists have suggested measures like co-operation in reducing pollution caused by burning of crops in neighbouring States, vehicular emission and building constructions across the National Capital Region (NCR).
Delhi Government’s Environment and Forest Secretary Ashwani Kumar told The Pioneer that neighbouring States like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh can contribute majorly in making the environment clean in Delhi.
“We cannot neglect that the burning of rice-husk and other agriculture waste in neighbouring States is a contributory factor in Delhi’s air pollution. The agricultural waste has the calorific value and this can be used as the fuel to generate electricity… The neighbouring States from which the major amount of smoke is passed into the air could be stopped with their co-operation. This can be a great help,” Kumar said.
City-based environmentalist, Gopal Krishna said both the Central and State Governments have to think collectively and take strict measures to overcome the situation of air pollution.
He said the major problem behind the increasing levels of pollution is the vehicular emission and suggested a unique idea for the Governments to reduce it.
“Every day, 1,400 new cars run on Delhi roads and we are still following the Euro-IV standards. Emissions from the vehicles add harmful gases like Nitrogen Oxide, Sulphur Dioxide in the air. Both the Governments can bring the policy of issuing car numbers and colours according to which the cars would be allowed on roads on an alternate basis,” he said.
Explaining his idea further, he said the distributions of car numbers to Delhi people should be in odd and even numbers for easy identification. “If cars with even and odd numbers run on alternative days, burden on roads will be reduced and that will help in cleaning Delhi air,” he elaborated.
Besides vehicular emission from old-age vehicles and firecrackers, another contributory factor in Delhi air pollution is the construction sites. At present there are above 20 construction sites under Public works Development (PWD), and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
With the air quality recorded to be worse for a few days, children and elderly people are at continuous risk of cardiac and pulmonary diseases.
Health experts suggest these particulate matters are extremely dangerous for people suffering from asthma, breathing, and cardiac disorders. On Diwali night, Capital witnessed a severe rise in pollution as the level of Particulate Matter (PM) was measured 23 times above normal.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government is trying to increase the green cover area.
The green cover area of Capital is only 20 per cent, however, as per the officials of DPCC, the State Government is trying to stretch the green area more by plantation.