Smog Control in Delhi: A blanket of smog has covered large parts of North India including the national capital Delhi. Visibility has been badly affected by this. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi on Friday and said that road, rail and air traffic will face huge problems.
reliable data
Be it Delhi or Mumbai, understanding the actual level of pollution is a big challenge today. Without adequate monitoring centers and accurate reporting, it is almost impossible to know how much poisonous air we are breathing. Solution to any problem is possible only when it is understood properly. To deal with this serious situation of pollution, we need detailed and reliable data. Without accurate data, we can neither measure the depth of the problem nor make any concrete strategy.
Dust, the biggest enemy
Dust is the biggest reason for poor air quality across India. Talking about Delhi, during the summer season, 40% of PM10 particles and 30% of PM2.5 particles present in the air are dust. In cities, this dust rises from construction sites and vacant raw lands and dissolves in the air. To prevent this, it is very important to cover construction sites and sprinkle water there regularly. Along with this, we can also reduce this problem to a great extent by increasing greenery in and around cities.
public transport
Millions of cars running on the road cause more pollution than a few thousand buses. Due to the increasing number of cars, the demand for parking is also increasing, due to which greenery is disappearing from the public places of cities. The most effective solution to this problem is a better public transport system. If people have access to adequate, comfortable and fast means of transportation, they will reduce the use of private vehicles. This will not only reduce congestion on the roads, but will also clean the air.
private vehicle
India is now catching up with western countries in implementing emission standards to reduce pollution. However, the real challenge is that even today a large number of old and polluting vehicles are running on the roads. The government should provide financial incentives or incentives to vehicle owners to scrap their old vehicles. Apart from this, pollution does not spread only through smoke, the wear and tear of vehicle tyres, brakes and roads also releases dangerous particles into the air. To reduce this problem, limits should be set on the weight and speed of vehicles, so that fuel consumption is reduced and pollution caused by wear and tear is also reduced.
Industry and Clean Fuels
The fuel used in factories decides how much pollution they will spread. Many industries cause excessive pollution, so gradually focusing on electrification is a better option. In those factories which are still using coal, oil or gas, it is mandatory to have strong arrangements for emission control. The smoke and toxic particles emanating from it can be stopped before they dissolve in the air, which is very important for the environment and public health.
Coal is the most polluting fuel used in industries. Even today, more than 70% of India’s energy needs are met by coal. However, the level of pollution depends on how we are using coal. History teaches us how dangerous its misuse can be. During the ‘London smog’ of 1952, only 18% of coal was used in Britain to heat homes, but it was the main cause of 60% of the smoke in winter. In contrast, Beijing set a positive example. From 2005, they started using gas instead of coal in their power plants, due to which they were successful in reducing pollution to a great extent.
use of biomass
Burning of biomass like wood, cow dung and crop residues is a serious problem of pollution. The main reason for smoke in Delhi at the beginning of winter is burning of paddy straw. Even today, about 30 lakh houses in Delhi-NCR use biomass for cooking or heating. It is really sad that the waste we are burning is poisoning the air, which could be a valuable resource. For example, biogas can be prepared from cow dung and ethanol can be prepared from crop residues. In this way, by using this waste properly we can generate clean energy for homes and vehicles.
change in crop rotation
The government should encourage farmers to break out of the traditional cycle of paddy and wheat and provide them necessary assistance. If farmers move towards cultivation of other crops apart from these crops, then the problem of burning paddy straw (residues) will reduce significantly. Crop diversification is not only good for soil health, but it can also play a big role in reducing air pollution.
In Mumbai and other coastal areas, particles of sea salt dissolve in the air, which is not in our hands to stop. But we can pay attention to the reasons that can be controlled. For example, heavy oil used in ship engines causes many times more pollution than petrol and diesel. It is very important to make strict standards and rules for this. Along with this, the aerosol products we use in our everyday lives – such as perfumes, deos and room fresheners. They also add to air pollution. By being aware of these, we can contribute to keeping the air clean.
Air pollution is not limited to the limits of any one city or country. During the Covid lockdown, it was observed that Beijing’s air did not improve as much as expected, as the winds were carrying pollution from around 1,000 kilometers away. Similarly, the air quality of western India in our country has a direct impact on the pollution of neighboring country Pakistan. Air has no map of its own, hence it is very important to have mutual coordination and cooperation between neighboring countries to deal with a serious problem like pollution.
