The Highlights:
Delhi, the capital city of India, is already experiencing a severe degradation of its air quality with hazardous levels being shown on the Air Quality Index. The city is highly blanketed by smog, causing extreme and immense health issues and life disruptions.
Air Quality Current Situation
Delhi’s AQI stood at 432 as of November 14, 2024. Therefore, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classified it as ‘severe’. For the second day in a row, the air quality here reached such dangerous levels. This is because 30 monitoring stations out of 36 monitored ‘severe AQI levels, thereby determining that the ‘severely polluted city has been polluted on a massive scale.
Important in Respect of Visibility and Transportation
The very heavy smog created a serious degree of thin visibility in the national capital and other neighboring places. Amritsar and Pathankot airports face zero visibility in the early morning hours, which threatened flights to be rescheduled and cancelled. IndiGo Airlines posted a travel advisory stating that passengers may face some troubled journeys during winters due to fog and should check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Health Effects
Exposures to severe air pollution are very hazardous to health and have a serious impact on the patients with respiratory diseases. As stated by the CPCB, the residents must be cautious against the long exposure to this high amount of pollution as it would lead to respiratory diseases and exacerbate prevailing health conditions. In reality, the residents are advised to minimize outdoor activities and implement adequate safety measures against the risks factors.
Causes
There are numerous causes for the poor air quality in Delhi, such as:
- Stubble Burning: Farmers in the adjoining states burn crop residues, which results in tremendous pollution in the air.
- Vehicle Emissions: Delhi is predominantly comprised of vehicles, which raises the rate of air pollution significantly.
- Industrial Emissions: Industrial activities that take place within and around Delhi emit pollutants in the air to further fuel the smoke of the city.
- Weather Conditions: Low wind speed and low temperatures during winter trap the pollutants near the ground, thus causing pollution.
Comparison with last year
Delhi has been experiencing highly polluted airs, mainly in the winter season. The current ratings of AQI are the highest ever recorded in the recent past; hence, a clear trend is seen. The data comparison shows a great increase in the pollution level compared to the same time in previous years. Thus, it gets established that there is a greater need for proper intervention.
Expert Views
According to environmental experts, the urgency of addressing the root causes of pollution is necessary because, “local pollution sources due to inefficient practices must be urgently addressed by cleaning up waste water from sewage and further review of the small-scale industrial units. The immediate and long-term measures are needed to address the severe air quality crisis in Delhi which includes strict enforcement of emission norms, improvement of public transport, and a shift towards sustainable agriculture by Dr. Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution specialist.
Public Health Measures
According to health professionals, people residing here should take such precautions:
- Limit Outdoor Activities: Avoid outdoor exercises or any strenuous activities that will certainly take place mainly during peak pollution hours.
- Donning Safety Equipment: Always wear N95 masks to reduce the intake of pollutants by the time you venture out
- Maintain Indoor Air: Use air purifiers for maintaining indoor air; windows should be closed to ensure nothing gets indoors
- Hydration: Drink enough water that can flush out the toxins from your body.
Conclusion
The present air-quality crisis in Delhi mandates the most extreme use of broad-spectrum, long-lasting measures to tackle the crisis of pollution. While certain immediate measures are needed to be taken in the interest of health, the measures must focus on sustainable practices and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations for cleaner air for its citizens in the long run.
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