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11 views12 pages

Untitled Presentation

Uploaded by

Lovis Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Case Study - Analysis of

Delhi's AQI problem


AEC - Environmental Studies Project

Deepak Kumar Sharma


Roll no.- 23/1277
Course - B.A. Programme
Index-

1. Background
2. Understanding AQI
3. Current and Seasonal trend in Delhi's AQI
4. Causes
5. Recommendation - The Beijing model & Mitigation of Stubble burning
6. Conclusion
Background -
Delhi has been infamously declared as the most polluted capital of the world in a
study done by a Swiss think tank. Each year Delhi gets enveloped in a thick blanket
of smog every winter due to smoke, dust, low wind speed, vehicular emissions and
crop stubble burning.

Effects -

1. Due to the deteriorating air quality 2.2 million children in Delhi have irreversible
lung damage, further it is a cause of reduced lung capacity, headaches, sore
throats, coughs, fatigue, lung cancer, and early death.
2. It also significantly impacted the city’s trade and commerce. Business activities
have reportedly declined by 20 percent, resulting in substantial financial losses,
particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and seasonal businesses.
Understanding AQI -
Air Quality Index-

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool that measures the quality of air and provides
information about the health effects of common air pollutants.

It measures the levels of five major air pollutants:

1. Particulate Matter (PM 10, PM2.5)


2. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
3. Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
4. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
5. Ground-level Ozone (O₃)
Note- PM stands for Particulate Matter. It is a term used to define a mixture of
solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles such as dust,
smoke, soot are visible to the naked eye, but other particulate matters are too
small that they are only visible in the electron microscope. Some of the sources of
PM are construction sites, fire, fields, unpaved roads etc. These particles are
about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair, making them small enough
to penetrate deep into the respiratory system and even enter the bloodstream.

The AQI is reported on a scale from 0 to 500, with higher numbers indicating
greater air pollution and health concern. The AQI is divided into six categories,
each with a different color and level of health concern
Current and Seasonal trend in Delhi's AQI-

Delhi and its neighbouring cities are experiencing pollution levels that are at least
30-35 times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

October–November Trend - Contribution of PM2.5: Constitutes nearly 60% of total


pollution during this period.
Causes -
1. Stubble Burning in Neighboring States- Farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn
crop residues, emitting large amounts of PM2.5 and PM 10.
2. Winter Meteorology- Lower temperatures and reduced wind speed trap
pollutants closer to the ground, a phenomenon known as temperature inversion.
3. Vehicular Emissions- Delhi's dense traffic contributes significantly to NO₂ and
PM2.5 levels.
4. Construction dust: Construction and other infrastructure work in the region
generates construction dust, which pollutes the air
5. Industrial pollution: Industries in Delhi-NCR emit gases that pollute the air ,
combined with poor safety standards enforcement.
Recommendations-

● The Beijing
model -
In 2013 Chinese capital was
grappling with one of the worst
pollution crisis in the world .
Enveloped in thick smoke ,
residents donned mask daily
with skyrocketing health risk but
fast forward to 2024 , the Beijing
skies are clearer with drastic
improvement in air quality.
Major factors behind Beijing’s “ Blue sky” -
1. Transportation reforms -shift from a car centric system to a sustainable
mobility model . Urban rail network expanded rapidly ,‌low emission zones
were established to restrict polluting vehicles, incentivising the adoption of EV
and Hybrid cars.
2. Investment in state of the art air quality monitoring system and integrated
network with over 2000 census in coordination with satellite and laser
technology to track pollution in real time, enabling to pin point pollution
hotspot.
3. Strict regulations for industries and reduced reliance on coal (67% to 57.7%)
● Stubble Burning Alternatives-
1. Promotion of Bio-Decomposers: Use of microbial solutions to convert stubble into
compost.
2. Subsidized Farm Equipment: Provide Happy Seeders and Super Straw
Management Systems.

Conclusion -
The long term structural reforms remains essential to deal with frequently
deteriorating AQI of Delhi . While timely execution of short-term measures can
significantly reduce the impact of seasonal pollution. Stakeholder collaboration, robust
policy enforcement, and public participation will be key to ensuring a breathable future
for Delhi.

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