Tag: POLLUTION

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Capital chokes

Several residents and commuters in the national capital complained of breathing problems and urged the government to mobilise steps to curb air pollution at the earliest…reports Asian Lite News

A thick toxic haze or ‘smog’ continued to hang heavy over the national capital as the air quality remained in the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed.

According to the data shared by the CPCB, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Anand Vihar was recorded at 452, while it was at 433, 460, 382, and 413 at RK Puram, Punjabi Bagh, Sri Aurobindo Marg and Shadipur, all in the ‘severe’ category.

Several residents and commuters in the national capital complained of breathing problems and urged the government and the authorities concerned to mobilise steps to curb the runaway air pollution at the earliest.

Voicing concerns over the deteriorating air quality, a commuter told ANI, “This toxic air is giving us breathing problems. The government should mobilise urgent steps to bring us some respite.”

Gulab Singh Shukla, another resident, said, “The deteriorating air quality is proving to be a public health hazard. Residents, especially daily commuters, are suffering and the government should act at the earliest.”

Jatin, a cyclist, said, “The air pollution is getting worse and people are literally struggling to breathe. The AQI is deteriorating by the day. The government and all agencies concerned should take note of our problems and announce further steps to curb pollution.”

Satish Mishra, another resident, said the governments of the northern states were trading blame and pointing fingers at each other instead of trying to control the worsening air pollution.

“If not controlled now, this could have a more severe impact on public health than Covid. Masks are back on the faces of residents here as the air quality is going from bad to worse,” Mishra told ANI.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the hazardous air quality in the national capital and directed that farmers should stop stubble burning forthwith in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, saying it was one of the major contributors to air pollution.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia made the local State House Officer, under the overall supervision of the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, responsible for preventing crop burning.

It further directed that a meeting be held on Wednesday between the states to ensure that crop burning is stopped forthwith.

Further, the top court noted that smog towers installed as per an earlier order are not working and directed the government to ensure they are repaired.

The top court also asked chief Secretaries of the states to hold a meeting either physically or by Zoom on the pollution issue. “Eminent Secretary should call for a meeting tomorrow, whether physically or via Zoom. All stakeholders will connect to ensure that we have a better picture and some redemption by Friday,” it added.

It also observed that schemes like odd-even for vehicles to tackle pollution issues mere optics.

Air pollution levels can be high during the winter months for a number of reasons, including dust and vehicular pollution, dry-cold weather, stubble burning, burning crop residues after the harvest season, and commuting.

Cold air is denser and moves slower than warm air, so it traps pollution and doesn’t whisk it away. This means that air pollution in winter remains in place for much longer than during the summer.

According to doctors, for any healthy person, a recommended AQI should be less than 50, but these days the AQI has spiked beyond 400, which could prove fatal for those suffering from lung-related diseases and even pose a risk of lung cancer.

Meanwhile, the air quality index (AQI) in Prayagraj district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, slipped to the ‘poor’ category on Wednesday.

Mumbai air quality deteriorates

Meanwhile, air quality in Mumbai continued to remain in the ‘Moderate’ category on Wednesday.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 149 at noon according to data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India data.

Many areas in the city dipped to ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ air quality.

The state pollution control meter, installed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) reflected the air quality of Mumbai as ‘very poor’ at 7 am. A health alert was also issued at the CST area due to the deteriorating air quality.

The air quality index varied in different areas of Mumbai. In the Bandra Kurla Complex, the air quality was recorded in a ‘moderate’ category, with an AQI of 200 at 9 am. Meanwhile, Colaba and Borivali East reported ‘moderate’ air quality with an AQI of 151 and 141, respectively.

On Tuesday, the air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category in the Bandra Kurla complex, which is one of the important commercial areas of Mumbai. Although the average AQI of the city was recorded to be 145 (moderate), as per the data released by SAFAR.

The Bombay High Court on Monday passed interim directions for the Maharashtra government and municipal authorities in Mumbai and surrounding areas to mitigate the issue of worsening air pollution.

ALSO READ-Delhi to Start Odd-Even System to Curb Pollution

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Health Lite Blogs

Clean Air, Healthy Lives

Living in a polluted place is like an open invitation to health issues. You might find yourself dealing with everyday problems like runny noses, itchy eyes, and a hard time breathing…writes Dr. Ambarish Joshi

Have you ever thought that air pollution is something that’s not affecting you directly? Then you need to take a look at what the WHO report says. It says that nearly 99% of the world’s population is exposed to air that is polluted beyond the recommended guidelines. This problem is even more critical in middle-income countries like India, where people face the highest levels of exposure.

From the usual suspects like sneezing and red eyes to more serious stuff like high blood pressure, fertility problems, and scary diseases like lung cancer, strokes, and heart attacks – this omnipresent pollution is causing more trouble than we realize. And guess what? Delhi recently earned itself a title Delhites are not so proud of– it’s now the world’s second most polluted city, according to Forbes. It means that if there’s air, there’s air pollution around us. And we’ve no other choice but to breathe it.

The puzzle of pollution

So, how does this pollution thing work? Well, it happens when chemicals get released into the air, either naturally or because of stuff humans do. These chemicals can be primary, going straight into the air, or secondary, forming when the primary ones mix with other stuff already in the atmosphere or with other pollutants. There’s a long list of these pollutants, and they’re everywhere – indoors and outdoors. Each of them brings its own set of problems.

Silent killer

Living in a polluted place is like an open invitation to health issues. You might find yourself dealing with everyday problems like runny noses, itchy eyes, and a hard time breathing. But it doesn’t stop there – pollution can mess with your health in big ways too. It’s behind things like chronic headaches, trouble getting pregnant, and even life-threatening diseases such as lung cancer, strokes, heart attacks, and nasty flare-ups of asthma or COPD.

A case study

Let’s understand the severity of air pollution with a real example– a case study from Delhi-based Primus Hospital. In January 2023, a 25-year-old woman, a non-smoker, was having a tough time with a runny nose, sore throat, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing. She presented these signs at Primus Hospital OPD.

What came to light is that she’s had asthma since she was 17, with a family history. She had been using inhalers on and off and even had a few doctor visits for her asthma over the past 5 years. On top of that, she was suffering from allergic rhino sinusitis, but she was following the advice of an ear, nose, and throat specialist. But here’s the twist – she’s not feeling better. In fact, her health was getting worse. By April, she came back with the same issues. She had been following everything the doctor said and using her inhaler correctly. So, what’s the deal? Well, it turns out she moved from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi for work in November 2022. She was a salesperson, spending long hours outside every day, and it’s pretty clear that Delhi’s polluted air caused her health to nosedive.

This case drives home the point that air pollution can mess with your health, big time, even if you were healthy before. In case you are already suffering from an ailment like asthma-like in the case presented– then polluted air can take a heavy toll on your overall health.

Take preventive measures

As we all know prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, to protect yourself, stay indoors during heavy pollution, keep doors and windows shut, avoid outdoor workouts, wear masks, and follow local air quality advice religiously. Also, don’t forget to listen to your doctor, take prescribed meds, and have regular check-ups.

Need of the hour- A collective effort

The need of the hour is a collective effort because it’s not just the government’s job to clean up the air. Paying little attention to our daily actions that are causing pollution and making course correction efforts like carpooling, using public transport, and avoiding burning stuff outdoors can help us all build a society where we can not only live but breathe clean air.

The health effects of air pollution are serious – one-third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease are due to air pollution. Air pollution is an immediate and perhaps one of the biggest health concerns today, inflicting harm on our present and upcoming generations. It’s time we all stand together and make our air breathable again by actions that are in our control.

ALSO READ-Health agency asks to prepare for a fresh wave of Covid

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Fashion Lifestyle Lite Blogs

Hair care routine to escape from pollution and weather

Scalp care is definitely the new skincare and with the start of Monsoon rains, and the range of problems that this weather brings, following the right scalp care routine is the urgent need of the hour…reports Asian Lite News

Managing and maintaining healthy tresses can be a constant struggle. A simple rule of thumb that we tend to overlook with regards to hair care is that a healthy mane begins with a healthy scalp. While skin care and the multiple layered routine is all the rage, we must follow a basic step by step routine to ensure a clean scalp that translates into a lustrous mane! Scalp care is definitely the new skincare and with the start of Monsoon rains, and the range of problems that this weather brings, following the right scalp care routine is the urgent need of the hour.

Sebastian and System Professional bring you the ideal set of products to complete your hair care routine from start to finish, giving you a squeaky-clean scalp and frizz free, lustrous hair all through the season!

Step 1: Pre wash

Ideal for the scalp, the Pre-Shampoo Clay by System Professional helps to detoxify the scalp by absorbing impurities and sebum build-up and leaving you with a clean refreshed scalp.

Price: INR 3,000/- for 200ml

Step 2: Shampoo

The Sebastian Professional Dark Oil Lightweight shampoo cleanses the hair while adding natural body and shine, without weighing down. Infused with a special blend of Jojoba and Argan oils , this shampoo is suitable for all hair types and leaves the hair up to 3 times smoother and shinier.

Price INR: 1600/- for 250ml

Step 3: Condition

The Sebastian Professional Dark Oil Lightweight conditioner is infused with a special blend of oils and works well to smoothen and detangle the hair whilst keeping it lightweight and full of body. The conditioner is suitable for all hair types.

Price: INR 1900/- for 250ml

Step 4: Hair Masking

The Professional Dark Oil Lightweight Mask: is a deeply nourishing mask that is made with a special blend of Jojoba and Argan Oils. This mask makes the hair silky smooth and shiny while maintaining its natural texture.

Price: INR 1900/- for 150ml

Step 5: Replenish your scalp

The Scalp Fluid by System Professional helps to protect your scalp from pollution and provides a gentle, cool and refreshing feel. Made with 95 percent natural origin ingredients, the fluid has a calming effect on an itchy, dry and red scalp. It also helps to protect the scalp from free radicals, leaving it well nourished. Made with niacinamide, the Scalp Fluid has anti-inflammatory properties. Use this Scalp fluid right after your hair is patted dry. 

Price: INR 2300/- for 125ml

ALSO READ-Hair care tips for an oily scalp

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India News

CPCB to tackle noise pollution in Delhi

The CPCB has planned to hire a consultant to carry out the exercise of development of Noise Maps of a complete city in terms of day and night equivalent noise levels indicating hot spots areas…reports Asian Lite News

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has planned to carry out noise mapping, hotspot identification and mitigation exercises for noise pollution control in Delhi.

The objective of the noise mapping process is to establish a country-wide approach to avoid, prevent or reduce environmental noise.

The CPCB has developed a database of sound levels of seven cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Hyderabad and to use this database for decision making.

According to a study in 2017 by a hearing test app, Mimi, which analysed the data of 200,000 people in 50 cities across the world “including Delhi and Mumbai” found the worst noise pollution was reported in Delhi.

Earlier, the CPCB in association with the State Pollution Control Boards laid down the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network in the seven metropolitan cities and installed 35 Noise Monitoring Systems in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Hyderabad (five stations in each) under Phase-I of the programme. The Strengthening of Network had been carried out by adding 35 more stations in the same cities during 2014-15.

The CPCB has planned to hire a consultant to carry out the exercise of development of Noise Maps of a complete city in terms of day and night equivalent noise levels indicating hot spots areas. The exercise will include collection of primary data comprising of traffic volume data, vehicular speed, road details (type, number of lanes, surface material etc.), building layouts, meteorological data and topographical data for preparation of noise maps. It will also include identification and quantification of sources of noise pollution and hotspots in the city and mitigation measures to be suggested for reducing noise pollution in identified locations.

Noise maps are to be used for communicating the noise situation to stakeholders, inform areas of planning such as construction, traffic & transport and to build a common understanding within the community.

Under the Noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, responsibilities and restrictions are defined with the authorities for further implementation. Responsibilities are vested with state governments, district magistrate, police commissioner, or any other officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police.

ALSO READ-Air pollution: Delhi to ban use of coal by industries

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Lite Blogs

TN villagers dislodge polluting charcoal mills

But their decade-long battle shut down all the charcoal mills in the belt, stopped pollution to their groundwater, and saved their cattle and agriculture…reports Gowthami Subramaniam

Kumar is a trader who buys coconuts from farms, dries them and sells copras (dried coconut kernels) to the hundreds of coconut oil mills that operate in the Kangeyam belt. This taluk in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupur district is known for its lush coconut farms and coconut-based industries, including those processing the nearly 500 tonnes of coconut shells which are generated as waste each month in the region, the 58-year-old said.

“Now, there’s an emerging market for coconut shell powder abroad and we are also exporting it,” Kumar said.

At the turn of the millennium, however, the local market was dominated by charcoal mills. Earlier paper factories and cement factories used to buy coconut shells to be used as firewood but they couldn’t absorb the growing mountain of waste generated by the ramp-up in coconut production.

When the charcoal mills started operating here on a full scale in the 2000s, little did the villagers know that their groundwater would soon start smelling of smoke, turn dark, contaminated with ash and become undrinkable. But their decade-long battle shut down all the charcoal mills in the belt, stopped pollution to their groundwater, and saved their cattle and agriculture.

When the charcoal mills began functioning as a cottage industry in the region in the 1990s, Karthikeyan, the organiser of the protests, did not think that within a few years it would grow from burning roughly 2 tonnes of coconut shells per week in a few ‘pot pits’ (a small pot buried underground to burn the shells) to whopping 10 tonnes every day in each of these massive pits. The 45-year-old said that the pits, shaped like wells, are open and usually up to 7 feet wide and run 25 feet deep.

Impact on water quality and level

“Once the shells were burnt, a huge amount of water was flushed into the pit. The charcoal was sold for activated carbon, and the remaining water and ash permeated the soil into the groundwater,” Karthikeyan told 101Reporters. “If the burnt shells were naturally allowed to cool, the process wouldn’t require much water. But to guarantee profits, often as high as 10 times the cost, huge amounts of water were splashed for faster results.”

The excessive smoke from the charcoal mills was causing respiratory problems and eye irritation among residents in the area, recalled Balasubramani (60), treasurer of the protest groups. When their drinking water was contaminated, even the cattle refused to consume water from the borewells. This eventually became a huge financial burden for farmers who had to spend between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh to purchase water from tankers for their cattle, he said.

Already in 2005, people had started petitioning for the closure of the charcoal mills. Karthikeyan said that by 2008, in Veeranampalayam alone (a panchayat with a population of around 3,500), there were seven units with a maximum of 22 pits per unit. As there were no restrictions in place, each pit would burn about 10 tonnes per day and use 12 kilolitres of water per pit to douse the fire.

When their groundwater turned blackish red and started tasting of smoke in late 2012, people from 22 villages around the mills staged various protests demanding their shutdown. They formed a union for the welfare of all those who were affected by charcoal mills.

United in protest

P Thangavelu from Veeranampalayam panchayat, who headed the protests recalled: “We had attended public grievance redressal meets every Monday to meet the collector. Every time, we were promised that action would be taken, but nothing was happening in reality.”

The villagers then passed a Gram Sabha Resolution on August 15, 2012, demanding the closure of these units. The resolution said the mills should not procure any additional coconut shells, and that their operations would have to come to halt within 45 days. Veeranampalayam panchayat president Gandhimathi wrote to all the units demanding that they shut down permanently, which the mill owners countered. The matter then went to the Madras High Court, with five people adversely affected by the mills approaching the court as plaintiffs against the mill owners.

Further protests and roadblocks by over 2,000 villagers drew the attention of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), which shut down all the charcoal mills in the panchayat after examining the polluted groundwater. They have been closed ever since, although the mill owners continued the legal battle and sought police protection to run the units.

After the high court denied their request, the pollution control board framed guidelines for the operation of the units. In its report submitted on November 27, it suggested the ban of all the mills’ below-ground-level operations and having them shifted to above ground-level units with elevated tanks. The mill owners refused to accept the order, and the case was forwarded to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the end 2012.

The process, however, was far from smooth, with politicians supporting the wealthy mill owners and the police booking the protesters on several counts, said Karthikeyan.

Balasubramani added: “We spent between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh to get anticipatory bail for 15 of us during the protests. We had to carry on with our protest, ignoring the threats by the police.”

Green tribunal ensures justice

The joint committee constituted by the NGT on February 29, 2020, declared that to continue natural restoration, the industries wouldn’t be allowed to operate with the existing underground pit technology and were liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs 20,15,800 “for causing damage to the agricultural land”.

All the five plaintiffs received roughly Rs 1,00,000 as part of the compensation, and Rs 6,00,000 was allotted to the construction of a drinking water tank for Veeranampalayam Panchayat. The report also upheld the authority of the panchayat in deciding whom to grant licences, keeping in mind the health of the villagers.

According to current panchayat resident Umanayagi, the underground water has still not returned to its natural potability, and the panchayat has not been permitting charcoal mills using overground technology to operate here either. With the compensation of Rs 6 lakhs received via the compensation ordered by the NGT, a drinking water tank with pipelines to neighbouring farms is being constructed at Pallavaralayampalayam in Veeranampalayam panchayat.

After more than a decade of suffering, the people of Kangayam taluk earned their right to pollution-free lives. The NGT report forbidding the operation of these units using outdated technology inspired people from Dindigul, Palladam and Udumalpet against illegal coal mining, as well, says Karthikeyan. The villages stood up for themselves and not only ensured their right to clean water but also reinforced the rights of panchayats in upholding the interests of the people.

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Lite Blogs

‘75% of river monitoring stations recorded heavy metal pollution’

It said that over a third of India’s coastline witnessed some degree of erosion between 1990 and 2018. West Bengal is the worst hit with over 60 per cent of its shoreline under erosion…reports Asian Lite News

Twenty-five glacial lakes and water bodies in India, China and Nepal have recorded over 40 per cent rise in their water spread areas since 2009, posing a grave threat to five Indian states and two Union territories, a new report stated.

According to the report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the seven states and Union Territories which are under threat are Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

However, it is not just the rise in water spread that is concerning. The data published in the report ‘State of India’s Environment 2022: In Figures’ tell a worrying tale.

It said that over a third of India’s coastline witnessed some degree of erosion between 1990 and 2018. West Bengal is the worst hit with over 60 per cent of its shoreline under erosion.

An increase in the frequency of cyclones and rise in the sea level, and anthropogenic activities such as the construction of harbours, beach mining and building of dams are some of the reasons for coastal erosion, it said.

Citing government data, the report said three out of every four river-monitoring stations in India have recorded alarming levels of heavy toxic metals — lead, iron, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, chromium and copper.

In one-fourth of the monitoring stations, spread across 117 rivers and tributaries, high levels of two or more toxic metals have been reported.

Of the 33 monitoring stations in the Ganga river, contaminant levels in 10 are high.

The report said 45 to 64 per cent of India’s forest cover is likely to become climate hotspots by 2030. By 2050, almost the entire forest cover of the country is likely to become a climate hotspot.

“The severity, in terms of damage due to climate change, is set to increase in 2085,” the CSE report stated.

A climate hotspot refers to an area that is likely to face severe impacts of climate change.

The report revealed that India recycled 12 per cent and burnt 20 per cent of the 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste it generated in 2019-20.

There is no information on the remaining 68 per cent of plastic waste, which most likely would have ended up in dumpsites and landfills, it stated.

ALSO READ-Stockholm+50 calls for ‘real’ commitment to environment

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Environment India News

Stubble smoke not the lone reason for Delhi-NCR pollution

New Delhi was ranked the world’s most polluted capital city for a second consecutive year followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman)…reports Asian Lite News

Despite being this winter being the wettest, the overall winter average of PM2.5 has stayed elevated and the overall contribution of the local and regional sources were higher than that from stubble smoke, an analysis of winter pollution for Delhi-NCR by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has said.

While there had been a minor drop in the seasonal level compared to previous winters, the level is still extremely high, and far from meeting the safety standards, the CSE researchers said, warning that if not acted upon immediately, this trend can worsen in the coming years negating the downward dip of the pandemic years.

The CSE carried out the analysis of real-time data from monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR for the entire winter period – starting from October 1, 2021 till February 28, 2022.

“Elevated pollution levels and smog episodes are evidence of the systemic pollution that has continued in the region due to inadequate infrastructure and systems for pollution control in all sectors. This can be tamed only if round the year action becomes more stringent and uniform across sectors and the region,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE.

Avikal Somvanshi, Programme manager, Urban Lab Analytics, CSE, said: “Even though there is considerable variation in seasonal averages across the region, winter pollution episodes are alarmingly high and synchronised in the region despite large distances. Despite being the wettest winter, the overall winter average of PM2.5 has stayed elevated and the overall contribution of the local and regional sources are higher than that from stubble smoke.”

According to SAFAR, smoke from the stubble fire in northern states started contributing to Delhi’s PM2.5 level from October 10, 2021 and ended on November 30, 2021. During these 52 days, the percentage contribution varied between one per cent and 48 per cent, with the latter being reported on November 7, 2021. This winter’s stubble fire season was four days shorter than the ones in the previous two winters. The number of days when percentage contribution was over 40 per cent was the same this winter as last year: just two days.

But if looked at from absolute concentration terms, this year had twice the number of days when the PM2.5 load from stubble fire was high enough to plunge Delhi’s air quality into ‘very poor’ category on its own. Further, these high contribution load days happened in a cluster, which indicates that the biggest bulk burning instances took place in a span of fewer days this year than in the previous years. This might be due to the extended monsoon which reduced the rain-free period before the sowing of the wheat crop.

The city-wide winter average for Delhi stood at 172 micro-gram per cubic metre, which is identical to the seasonal average of the winter of 2019-20 but is nine per cent lower than the seasonal average of 2020-21 winter. The seasonal peak was about five per cent lower than both preceding winters.

Number of days with severe or worse air quality bounced back to pre-Covid levels: This winter, 25 days had the city-wide average in ‘severe’ or ‘worse’ AQI category — up from 23 such days in the previous winter and on par with 25 days in the winter of 2019-20.

The CSE used data as recorded by 81 air quality monitoring stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) while the farm stubble fire data was sourced from System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Weather data was sourced from the Safdarjang weather station of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Most polluted capital city in the world

New Delhi was ranked the world’s most polluted capital city for a second consecutive year followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman).

Of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021, 12 were in India. New Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentration in 2021, 96.4 Ig/m3, up from 84 Ig/m3 in 2020.

The annual PM2.5 concentration averages in 48 per cent of India’s cities, exceeded 50 Ig/m3 or more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Crop burning is common in India, especially in the rice farms near Delhi during the winter months.

During crop burning season, smoke is responsible for up to 45 per cent of pollution in the city.

These startling facts came to light on Tuesday in the 2021 World Air Quality Report according to which only three per cent of cities and no single country has met the latest WHO PM2.5 annual air quality guidelines.

The report analyses PM2.5 air pollution measurements from air monitoring stations in 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions and territories.

IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report is the first major global air quality report based on updated annual WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5.

ALSO READ-NW, Central, South-Central India country’s new heatwave hotspots

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India News

Delhi world’s most polluted capital city  

Of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021, 12 were in India. New Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentration in 2021, 96.4 Ig/m3, up from 84 Ig/m3 in 2020, reports Asian Lite News

New Delhi has been ranked the world’s most polluted capital city for a second consecutive year followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman).

Of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021, 12 were in India. New Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentration in 2021, 96.4 Ig/m3, up from 84 Ig/m3 in 2020.

The annual PM2.5 concentration averages in 48 per cent of India’s cities, exceeded 50 Ig/m3 or more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Crop burning is common in India, especially in the rice farms near Delhi during the winter months.

During crop burning season, smoke is responsible for up to 45 per cent of pollution in the city.

These startling facts came to light on Tuesday in the 2021 World Air Quality Report according to which only three per cent of cities and no single country has met the latest WHO PM2.5 annual air quality guidelines.

The report analyses PM2.5 air pollution measurements from air monitoring stations in 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions and territories.

IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report is the first major global air quality report based on updated annual WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5.

The new guidelines were released in September 2021 and cut existing annual PM2.5 guideline values from 10 Aug/m 3 to 5 Aug/m 3.

Fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5, is commonly accepted to be the most harmful, widely-monitored air pollutant and has been found to be a major contributing factor to health effects such as asthma, stroke, heart and lung diseases.

PM2.5 leads to millions of premature deaths every year. The key findings include no country met the latest WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5 in 2021.

Only the territories of New Caledonia, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico met the updated WHO PM2.5 air quality guidelines.

Only 222 out of 6,475 global cities in the report met the updated WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

At least 93 cities in the report had annual PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 10 times the WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

Of 174 Latin America and the Caribbean cities, only 12 (seven per cent) have met the WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

Of 1,887 Asian cities, only four (0.2 per cent) have met the updated WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

Of the 1,588 cities in Europe, only 55 (three per cent) have met the WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

The report covered 2,406 cities in the US and found that an average PM2.5 concentrations rose from 9.6 Aug/m 3 to 10.3 Aug/m 3 in 2021 compared to 2020.

“It is a shocking fact that no major city or country is providing safe and healthy air to their citizens according to the latest WHO air quality guidelines.

“This report underscores just how much work remains to be done to ensure that everyone has safe, clean and healthy air to breathe. The time for action is now,” said Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir.

ALSO READ-AAP steps out to Delhi, creates national impact

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Lite Blogs

Dhanbad chocked

According to doctors, the pollution is “affecting embryos in the womb, because of which the number of cases of deformities among newborns has increased in recent times”, reports Praduman Choubey

Umesh Bhuian (28), an unorganised sector labourer, succumbed to lung cancer in 2017. He was a resident of the underground fire-affected Ghanudih area of Jharia in Jharkhand, working as a loader at the Kujama colliery. A year later, Ram Kumar Paswan, a BCCL employee and resident of the same locality, died of tuberculosis. He was exposed to coal dust both at his workplace and residence in Ghanudih.

Bhuian and Paswan aren’t isolated cases in these parts of Jharkhand. In fact, Dr Nasir Iqbal, a private physician in Jharia, said that in a coal town, it was “common to come across patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”. “The number of such patients, as well as those suffering from allergic rhinitis, had spiked in the past six to seven years due to rising pollution,” he said.

In Jharia, exposure to coal dust and rising pollution has begun to affect unborn children, as well. According to Jharia-based physiotherapist and environmentalist Manoj Singh, the pollution is “affecting embryos in the womb, because of which the number of cases of deformities among newborns has increased in recent times”.

In June 2019, Singh participated in a meeting organised by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board in Ranchi, to chalk out a strategy to control the pollution around Jharia’s coalfields. “None of the measures promised by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC) at the Ranchi meeting has been implemented yet, even though Greenpeace India ranked the coal town of Jharia the worst polluted city/town in the country twice (in 2019 and 2020), in a list of around 300.”

Furthermore, in a gross disregard for pollution-control norms, more than 50,000 trees have been uprooted from various parts of the district for road-broadening work. According to local social worker Akhlaque Ahmad, the plantation work carried out to offset the ill effects of the felled trees “is almost negligible”.

Anup Sao, a former councillor of Ward 37, located near the fire-affected colliery project of Bastacola, highlighted several reasons for the abysmal state of the region. For one, he noted how activities carried out through open-cast mines add to the problem.

“The entry of private miners as BCCL contractors has led to a further increase in pollution. To meet the production target, they often disregard and violate norms while mining and transporting coal. For instance, they move coal in uncovered vehicles,” Sao said, adding that the close proximity of some mines to inhabited areas made things worse.

Rajiv Sharma, general secretary of the Jharkhand Industries and Trade Association, said: “Even though the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board allotted Rs 54 crore to the DMC to implement measures like plantation, green walling and installation of pollution measurement equipment under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), very few measures had been initiated; the fund is lying unused.”

He also pointed out that the five dust-sweeping machines that the civic body had procured as part of pollution control measures had been lying unused at garbage compactor stations because the DMC could not dole out Rs 19 lakhs per month to operate the equipment, which were obtained for Rs 2.65 crore in 2019.

“We also suggested that they adopt unconventional measures such as installation of air filtration plants, which the Delhi government implemented well, to control pollution effectively,” Sharma added.

Hubban Mallick, Director of Pay and Clean, the firm entrusted with the task of operating the dust-sweeping machines, said: “These machines were procured by diverting funds meant for the District Mineral Foundation Trust. But the DMC failed to manage the Rs 19 lakh required for fuel and to employ drivers to operate the machines.

“Among the five machines bought, two are small machines that were meant to be used within colonies. However, they have not been utilised for this purpose, leaving residential areas heavily polluted. The payments take anywhere between three to six months, leaving the workers and drivers in a rut. This adds further pressure on the cleaning efforts of the entire enterprise.”

According to the contract, a minimum distance of 160 km and a maximum of 200 km needed to be swept each day. However, due to internal bureaucratic corruption, this is far from reality, he said. Sweeping operations are undertaken a few days a week or upon the arrival of politicians.

Contrary to the claims, Dhanbad Municipal Commissioner Satyendra Kumar said that the civic body had been operating three dust sprinkler machines, procured through the NCAP fund, and had also purchased 10 more such machines, which were taken for a test run on January 29.

“We will procure more pollution-control equipment in phases under the NCAP. We will also operate the dust-sweeping machines lying idle by repairing them,” he added.

However, workers engaged directly with cleanliness activities have not received this decision well.

“It does not matter if 10 new machines are bought. The machines need good roads and financial help to function properly,” Mallick emphasised. “The dust sweepers and sprinklers cannot be operated in the current state of the roads. The government and DMC are wasting money on the wrong front and need to improve the infrastructure first, before spending more money on machines.”

Urging regional politicians to step up, he called out the government for its “apathetic attitude” towards the worsening air quality in Dhanbad, blaming it for the deplorable condition of one of India’s most-polluted cities.

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SC directs Centre, states on curbing air pollution

The top court also told the state governments to not take action against farmers, rather persuade them to stop stubble burning…reports Asian Lite News.

The Supreme Court on Monday sought an action plan within 24 hours from the Centre and state governments, detailing steps taken by task forces to stop air pollution caused by vehicular traffic, construction work, stubble burning, power plants, entry of heavy vehicles, dust, etc.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana told counsel appearing for the Centre and state governments, “Need an action plan by tomorrow evening. Hold a meeting…”

The top court also asked the Centre and states to allow the people to work-from-home.

The bench, also comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant, noted that the Centre in its affidavit has submitted that stubble burning is not a major factor leading to severe air pollution level in the capital, rather the agricultural burning leads to merely 11 per cent contribution on PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration.

The top court told the Centre to call an emergency meeting of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on Tuesday for taking urgent measures to bring down air pollution levels.

The top court also told the state governments to not take action against farmers, rather persuade them to stop stubble burning.

“Don’t take action against farmers, persuade them,” said the bench. The bench emphasized that action is required to be taken on vehicular pollution, industrial pollution and dust control measures, which contributes nearly 76 per cent to the air pollution.

The Delhi government has told the Supreme Court that it is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control the local emission, which would help in bringing down the air pollution in the national capital, but added that it will have only a limited impact.

In an affidavit, the Delhi government said: “GNCTD is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control local emissions. However, such a step would be meaningful if it is implemented across the NCR areas in neighbouring states. Given Delhi’s compact size, a lockdown would have limited impact on the air quality regime”.

The government said this issue would need to be addressed at the level of airshed involving the NCR areas.

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