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Delhi in 2024 clocked highest PM2.5 since 2019: CPCB data

The annual average concentration of PM2.5 (particulate matter having a diameter of 2.5 microns or less), a key pollutant responsible for the Capital’s annual pollution cycle, clocked a five-year high till December 25, according to data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Until December 25 this year, Delhi recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 104.08 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3)—over two-and-a-half times the safe limit of 40µg/m3—which was the worst since Delhi clocked an average of 105.57µg/m3 in 2019. Further, the data suggested that Delhi is on course to record its most polluted year in terms of annual PM2.5 concentration since 2021, when the annual average PM2.5 concentration (till December 31) was 104.95µg/m3. Delhi’s annual PM 2.5 average last year was 100.21µg/m3 and it was 98µg/m3 in 2022. Experts said the lack of active western disturbances, coupled with a possible increase in local pollution, could be the cause for increased pollution levels this year. “The first half of the year was fairly dry, with a number of heatwave days recorded not just in Delhi-NCR. If there is no rain, PM2.5 and PM10 levels remain high due to local sources. We saw an improvement during monsoon period as there was ample rain, but again, post September, we barely saw any rain activity, barring in the last few days,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet Admitting that although western disturbances were recorded in the region, he said they were mainly feeble, thus keeping wind speeds in check too. “If the western disturbance is strong, it can bring rain, which helps settle pollutants. If it is feeble, it will simply bring some cloudiness and slow down wind speed, which worsens pollution,” he said. Delhi has had its driest start to the year this year since 2018, with only 44.7mm of rainfall recorded till May 31. Between June and September, the four monsoon months, it logged 1,029.9 mm of rainfall, which was significantly higher than the long-period average of 640.4mm. There was zero rainfall in October and November, with further spells only recorded in the last week of December. Experts said like 2023, this year too is likely to be worse than its previous year, snapping a trend seen till 2022, where there was a gradual improvement in PM2.5 concentration. In 2018, Delhi’s annual PM 2.5 concentration was 113.99µg/m3. It was 108.25µg/m3 in 2019; 94.93µg/m3 in 2020 (Covid-19 lockdown year); 104.95µg/m3 in 2021 and 98µg/m3 in 2022. This streak of a gradual dip was snapped last year, when the PM2.5 concentration rose marginally, touching 101.21µg/m3. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said 2024 shows that last year’s spike in pollution was not an aberration. “The fact that the curve turned upwards last year and may possibly be even higher in 2024, shows that pollution levels have increased in the region, despite action. We have seen the overall winter averages increasing too. While this could be down to meteorological conditions, it also shows local and regional pollution is fairly high and is, thus, not allowing the average to dip. Thus, we need focused action and better planning,” she said. While PM2.5 is an indication of combustion sources, PM10—slightly coarser particles that are an indication of dust pollution—were also higher than in previous years. CPCB data showed till December 25, the rolling PM10 average was 212.29µg/m3—over two-and-a-half times the safe limit of 60µg/m3. The annual PM10 average last year (till December 31) was 205.36µg/m3; it was 210.53µg/m3 in 2022; 210.70µg/m3 in 2021; 180.63µg/m3 in 2020 and 217.28µg/m3 in 2019.

City choked on bad air for 264 days this yr

For over two-thirds of this year, levels of PM2.5 logged in the city did not meet the country's safe standards. And for a second year in a row, there wasn't a single day that the concentration of this ultra-fine pollutant met international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), PM2.5 was above 60 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) on 264 days – 72.5% -- out of 364 till Dec 29 this year. Of the 100 days when the city met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by keeping PM2.5 below 60 µg/m3, 82 were recorded during the monsoon season between June and Sept. The remaining nine were between March and May, and nine during the winter. Rainy and windy days help wash away pollutants from the atmosphere. Mainly released from vehicles, industrial processes, power plants and waste burning, particulate matter 2.5 are tiny particles that can be inhaled and get absorbed into the bloodstream. Long exposure can cause serious health issues such as respiratory diseases and cardiovascular problems. Experts told TOI that PM2.5 data was alarming. "Such a high number of days in non-compliance with WHO and NAAQS standards shows a huge health burden on citizens living in the city and necessitates strict actions to curb pollution at the source, reduce absolute emission load from all polluting sectors within the city as well as in the larger air-shed," said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Enviro Catalysts, a think-tank. Dahiya pointed out that data from Gurgaon may not be representative of the entire city. "Gurgaon just has four monitoring stations and data quality is a bit of a concern as we have seen negative and low values of PM2.5. Station downtime is also a major concern and with just a few monitoring stations, the city's average gets influenced when even one station malfunctions," he said. Comparison of PM2.5 levels with previous years shows little to no improvement. Last year, the city did not meet PM2.5 standards on 71% of the days. There were just 105 days when it did. Similarly, the days Gurgaon met NAAQS standard was 103 in 2022. This figure was relatively better in the pandemic years (2021 and 2020), when there were lockdown restrictions. 2019 saw 110 cleaner air days. Data shows the years before that were worse off, with 2018 recording just 54 cleaner air days, and even fewer in 2017 (35) and 2016 (37). WHO's daily limit for PM2.5 – at 30 µg/m3 -- was not met even on a single day. It was the same last year. In 2022, the pollutant was below this limit for two days, preceded by nil in 2021 and 2020. 2019 saw two cleaner air days, one in 2018, and nil in 2017 and 2016. Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said this data on PM2.5 levels over the past years highlights a concerning trend in air quality. "Despite some fluctuations, the inability to consistently meet WHO's daily guidelines for PM2.5 levels underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to combat air pollution. The fact that we have not met these guidelines at all in 2023 and 2024 is particularly alarming. It is imperative that we implement stricter regulations, enhance monitoring, and promote public awareness to protect public health and ensure cleaner air for future generations," he said. Officials of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) said it was crucial to implement stringent measures for controlling emissions from industrial and vehicular sources. "HSPCB has mandated the installation of pollution control devices in industries to reduce emissions. Regular inspections and monitoring ensure compliance with emission standards. We have also directed civic bodies to ensure that waste burning incidents should be curbed," said Vijay Chaudhary, regional officer, HSPCB.

Fragile fragrances: The climate impact on India’s perfume makers

The Climate India 2024 report released by the Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) says India experienced extreme weather events on 93% of the days for the first nine months. These weather events resulted in 3,238 casualties and affected 3.2 million hectares of cropland. “The effect of climate change is very slow and unnoticeable,” said Praful Gundhi, co-owner of Gulab Singh Johrimal, the oldest perfumery located in the capital city. “The weather patterns have shifted by about a month,” said Pranav Kapoor, founder of PKAPO and an 8th-generation perfumer from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh — carrying out the centuries-old family perfume business passed down to him. “For instance,” he continued, “roses were traditionally planted by late August or early September. Whereas, now we have shifted to planting the crop by September or early October to ensure a better yield by November.” India’s perfume capital, Kannauj has been known for the production of essential oils and attars since the pre-Mughal era. Perfumers in the state use the traditional method of deg (a copper still containing water and flowers or herbs to be distilled) and bhapka (a copper vessel condensing fragrant steam from deg) to extract essential oils and attars. “We are not going to part with this unique ancient craft which is not only surviving but thriving,” Kapoor said, hinting at the place’s fragrance-rich heritage. “This perfume business is the bread and butter for us. The farmers are generational — the flowertakers, the transporters, and us, the distillers — and the whole system has been working for generations. The town runs on it.” India contributes over $500 million to the $24 billion global fragrance and flavour industry. Due to various reforms in the economic and seed sectors, the Indian floriculture industry which was primarily a domestic agricultural activity until the late 1980s, gained commercial significance during the 1990s. According to a survey published by the Indian Society of Ornamental Horticulture, climate change significantly affects flower production, especially in open fields. Extreme heat, cold and irregular rainfall patterns can “impact native species in their natural habitats”. “There are some target temperatures and humidity parameters for a particular crop,” said Dr Nazir Ahmad Masoodi, associate professor and senior scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir, J&K.

Gurgaon, 3 other districts to get 10 stations that will monitor air quality & study source of pollution

Gurgaon: The city will be among four districts in the state where 10 air quality monitoring stations will be set up by the end of 2025. Other than calculating air quality index (AQI), these stations will be stocked with equipment to study source apportionment — contribution of pollutants from different sources. Officials said on Friday that these stations will be set up in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh — identified by the state pollution control board as the most polluted districts of Haryana. The procurement process to get equipment for these stations has begun. "We expect to get this done by the second half of 2025. This is part of the clear air programme of the World Bank," said Nirmal Kashyap, head of air-cell, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Haryana will get financial assistance of Rs 2,498 crore in the first phase of this project. Officials told TOI that the amount of aid could go up to Rs 10,000 in subsequent phases. "We have identified Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh where these air stations will be set up. These stations will use modelling, which will be useful for calculating localised air quality issues and has been used in regulatory applications to develop strategies for reducing emissions," Kashyap said. Every winter, air quality in Delhi-NCR plummets to hazardous levels as the region is cloaked by toxic haze created from a combination of pollutants mixing with fog. Farm fires, commonly seen in north India's agricultural belt to clear tracts of land for another round of sowing after paddy harvest, contribute to winter pollution, though local sources play a significant role too. In NCR, Delhi is the only city where source apportionment analysis is carried out regularly to pinpoint the key causes of pollution at a specific time. "Gurgaon's air quality is a concern not just during the winter months but throughout the year. Local sources such as vehicular emissions, construction dust and industrial activities contribute significantly to the city's persistent air pollution. Continuous monitoring and source apportionment are crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate pollution," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Bihar Floods And Its Resilient Communities Visit Delhi

It is unusual to say the least that the annual saga of Bihar floods finds itself in the conversations happening in the national capital. But the media and Delhiites were forced to stop and take cognisance of recurring floods in the country’s poorest state where about 34 per cent of the population experiences one kind of deprivation or the other be it in health, education, or living standards (officially known as multidimensional poverty). The interest in Bihar was piqued when Eklavya Prasad held his photo exhibition, titled Portraits of Persistence, and Enduring Communities of North Bihar, at The Art Gallery in Delhi’s India International Centre (Annexe) on Lodhi Road from December 5 to December 12. The exhibition, inaugurated by environmentalist Sunita Narain, is a part of a series called Visual Kathã initiated by Prasad, and saw hundreds of visitors. The photographs captured glimpses of the lives of the people in Bihar who have lived with the rivers and their floods for centuries. “Through their lived experiences, people in North Bihar have developed their own detailed systems of pre-flood, during-the-floods, and post-floods lives and livelihoods,” says Prasad, founder of the non-profit Megh Pyne Abhiyan that works with communities most impacted by floods. “These communities are some of the poorest in the country, but they are also one of the most resilient people from whom we need to learn, especially in the context of challenges posed due to climate change. This is one of the reasons to hold this exhibition in the heart of the country,” he adds.

Forest Rights Act to tiger conservation, charges of ‘policy paralysis’, the mixed bag of environmental governance under PM Manmohan Singh

Economist-turned-prime minister Manmohan Singh’s 10-year-long tenure heading a rapidly developing India was marked by a series of achievements and controversies in the realm of environmental governance. Landmark environmental legislation, such as the Forest Rights Act, 2006, was enacted in Singh’s first term, driven by the National Advisory Council, which was headed by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The Act empowered tribal and forest-dwelling communities by recognising their historical rights over forest land and forest resources. However, during the second term of the United Progressive Alliance, Singh’s frequent and often public disagreements over decisions taken by environment minister Jairam Ramesh featured as a recurring theme during Ramesh’s tenure between 2009 and 2011. These disagreements were often over Ramesh’s scrutiny of big-ticket industrial projects, their potential environmental impact, and rejection of environmental permissions to industrial projects involving foreign direct investment. The most controversial among them was Ramesh’s decision to not grant green permissions to Vedanta’s bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri hills, in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. The particularly vulnerable tribal group Dongria Kondh had stood their ground against the project to protect their cultural and religious rights over the revered Niyamgiri hills. Incidentally, the case would go on to become a precedent for the protection of tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act, which was enacted in UPA’s first term. In 2013, the Supreme Court directed that consent should be obtained from gram sabhas affected by the project and, consequently, the project was rejected by the people. Ramesh would also draw the PMO’s ire over his ministry’s categorisation of coal-bearing areas as ‘go and no-go zones’ depending on the contiguity of dense forests in and around the potential mining areas. This decision prompted Singh’s office to form a ministerial committee to examine the issue. Jayanthi Natarajan succeeded Ramesh in the environment ministry. Natarajan and Singh’s government faced allegations that the former was indulging in corruption for granting environmental permissions. The former minister was also accused of stalling clearance of files and resigned in December 2013. One month later, as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi mounted an attack on Singh’s government and Natarajan in an election rally and used the term ‘Jayanthi tax’ to accuse the UPA’s environment ministry of corruption. Anti-climatically, a case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Natarajan alleging irregularities in clearances given to a Jharkhand mine project was closed last year. Speaking on the historic Forest Rights Act, former Union minister and chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan said that the National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi did fantastic work on social welfare issues, including the FRA, 2006. “The Left parties were very keen on the forest rights legislation and I interacted regularly with Brinda Karat on the issue as part of the PMO. We interacted with tribal rights groups prior to the legislation’s birth and on environmental issues our attempt was to always achieve the best possible balance,” he said. While the enactment of the Forest Rights Act was one of the biggest feats in environmental governance during Singh’s tenure, other bright spots in this sphere included the mapping of the fragile Western Ghats to frame long-term plans for its protection. Singh’s tenure also saw the launch of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the National Solar Mission, and key interventions in tiger conservation. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, said that in their personal conversations, Singh would bring up the issue of historical injustices done to the tribal communities. As an economist, she added, the biggest issue for him was how granting land tenure could improve livelihoods. “This showed his ability to understand both, environment and development,” she said.

Climate Change and the New Green Economy: The big questions for 2025

The summer of 2024 was the hottest on record. The global-average temperature between September 2023 and August 2024 was the highest on record for a 12-month period compared to pre-industrial averages. Data from the Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth showed that India recorded extreme weather events on 93% of days in the first nine months of the year. Events which occurred a few times every century are now happening every five years or less. The frequency adds to the severity of impact by not allowing sufficient time to recover from the cycle of losses and damages. The economic impacts of the climate crisis on the developing world cannot be underestimated. Climate ambition needs to be ramped up dramatically and for this, fossil fuel demand and supply, responsible for about 90% of global CO2 emissions, have to decline substantially. But divorcing our economies from easily transportable, tradeable and hoardable fuels like coal, oil and gas is proving very difficult to do in practice.

What’s behind Mumbai’s haze? Curtain of grey cloaks the city, irks citizens

It’s not Delhi, but on Thursday Mumbai came close. A curtain of haze rolled in and hung heavy over many parts of Mumbai, alarming citizens as visibility was poorer than usual. Social media buzzed with comments and images of Mumbai lost in a haze, now a regular feature in winter in this metropolis. On Thursday, however, the haze was particularly dense and murky. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received an unusually high number of complaints regarding poor air quality. Some citizens were alarmed, many were angry. The 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI), taken at 4pm, was 160, in the ‘moderate’ category, but that was no comfort, as visibility had plummeted. Scientists say this is merely an average figure and AQI varies widely across the city. For instance, Siddharth Nagar in Worli had the worst short spikes. Here, particulate matter of PM10 size reflected an AQI between 401 and 500, characterised as severe, from 7am to 10am. Consequently, AQI here yo-yoed between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’, breaching permissible levels several times over. Similarly, Navy Nagar in Colaba too experienced PM10 levels , in the ‘poor’ category on the AQI scale, from 10am till sundown. In Borivali West, PM2.5 levels were over AQI 300 – in the very poor category – from 9am to 8pm. Malad West was similarly plagued with very poor levels of PM2.5. Deonar spiked into the very poor zone with PM 2.5 levels, from 9am to 11am. BKC saw a spike in PM2.5 and PM10 levels, to ‘poor’ levels, between 8am till noon. Kandivali West, Sewri and Mazgaon were in the ‘poor’ category for almost 24 hours. Worse, air pollution monitors in areas where complaints had poured in, such as Worli, Deonar, Bandra and Shivaji Nagar, were either not working or only partially functional. As a result, AQI in these areas were not taken into account in the city’s overall average AQI. Weather scientists say haze is essentially a combination of local weather conditions, suspended particulate matter such as dust, and gaseous emissions from vehicles and other sources. A unique combination of these on Thursday resulted in a hazy curtain of low visibility that draped Mumbai. According to a scientist at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, “Low temperatures and low wind speeds together result in a drop in natural ventilation. Also, right now, Mumbai’s air has high moisture content, which causes aerosols to swell and get trapped in the air. This creates haze,” he said. Sushma Nair, scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), agreed. “A Western Disturbance is approaching Mumbai, bringing in cloudy weather with a lot of moisture from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Suspended particles cling to moisture particles, and do not dissipate easily as winter is always marked by low wind speeds,” said Nair. However, she said, the haze should dissipate in the coming days. As the Western Disturbance passes, the skies will clear up, allowing day time temperatures to rise. However, night time temperatures will drop further, as moisture in the air will decrease, allowing the air to cool, Nair explained, adding that the change will be gradual. But Mumbai’s rising pollutions levels, a major factor producing haze, are undeniable. Anumita Roy, executive director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “The haze is due to the combination of pollution and atmospheric conditions in winter. Air is trapped and pollution builds up.”

Delhi’s air quality deteriorates despite rains as toxic smog blankets city

The national capital experienced relentless rains on Friday, but remained enveloped in a thick blanket of smog, rendering the city landscape rather gloomy. The dense fog was a result of condensation of moisture that trapped pollution, hurting visibility and worsening air quality in the city, according to experts. The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital region deteriorated to 353 on Friday, from 345 a day earlier, remaining in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is despite the moderate to slightly intense rain in the city since morning. An AQI reading of 0-50 is categorized as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’. The air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category until 5 January due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, including wind speed. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects moderate to intense rainfall for another two hours in the national capital and adjoining areas and issued a warning for people planning to go outside. It rains in NCR “During winter, if there is intense rain, it is expected to break down the particle like a washout effect and increase moisture levels. Because of cold conditions, a lot of moisture condenses, and fog gets created. Because of the increase in the moisture level and condensation of water in the air, the pollution is trapped. We are in a bad air quality situation because of the inefficient natural ventilation process in the city,” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), told Mint. “The pollution is trapped because of inversion, and when the rain is pouring, there may be some washout effect, but at the same time because of higher moisture level in the air and the moisture that is getting condensed because of the cold becomes the trapper of the pollution,” Roychowdhury explained. Whether the rain, which is predicted to continue until Saturday, will bring down pollution levels in the national capital is hard to anticipate, she said CSE. “It depends on whether, after the rain stops, we are going to have a lighter condition, whether the sun will be out or not, and most importantly on wind speed."

Climate Emergency Reached Tipping Point In 2024 As Extreme Weather Escalated Across India

From devastating heatwaves to catastrophic floods, the millions of lives lost in the spate of extreme weather events this year have proved that the climate emergency reached a tipping point in 2024. The year is on track to become the warmest-ever in recorded history, though it’s yet to be officially declared. Countries in the Global South, including India, remain at the forefront of this unprecedented warming, bearing the heftiest cost, despite contributing the least to it. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) database, India lost over 3,238 lives in extreme weather events in the first nine months of 2024 alone, which also affected 3.2 million ha of crops, destroyed 235,862 houses, and killed 9,457 livestock.

भारत की प्रदूषित नदियां दुनियाभर के लिए समस्या बनीं

भारत में दशकों से चले आ रहे खराब तरीके से कचरे के प्रबंधन के कारण कूड़े के बड़े-बड़े पहाड़ हर जगह दिखाई पड़ जाते हैं। लेकिन इस बढ़ते हुए ‘बिना उपचारित कचरे’ का परिणाम सिर्फ हम तक सीमित नहीं है। जलीय वातावरण में फैलते कचरे का अनुमान लगाने वाले एक नए अध्ययन से पता चलता है कि आने वाले समय में भारत इस वैश्विक समस्या के लिए कुछ बड़े जिम्मेदार देशों में से एक होगा और इसकी वजह शहरों यानी नगरपालिका क्षेत्रों का बिना उपचारित कचरा है। भारत में लाखों लोग अपने अस्तित्व के लिए विशाल नदी प्रणालियों पर निर्भर रहते आए हैं। भारतीय वन्यजीव संस्थान के मुताबिक, भारत की नदियां दुनिया के अनोखे जलीय जीव-जंतु और पौधों की 18% आबादी का पोषण भी करती हैं। लेकिन 2022 में केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड ने भारत की 605 नदियों में से आधे से थोड़ी ज्यादा नदियों को प्रदूषित पाया। यह प्रदूषण न सिर्फ लोगों के स्वास्थ्य और जैव विविधता के लिए खतरा है, बल्कि अब यह जल स्रोतों में जाने वाले कचरे के बढ़ते वैश्विक बोझ से भी जुड़ गया है। इंटरनेशनल इंस्टीट्यूट फॉर एप्लाइड सिस्टम्स एनालिसिस (IIASA) के शोधकर्ताओं ने एक नए अध्ययन में अनुमान लगाया कि 2020 में, भारत के नगरपालिका क्षेत्र के कचरे ने दुनिया की नदियों में बहकर जाने वाले कचरे में 10% का योगदान दिया है। और यह तब है, जब 2018 तक लागू नीतियों को ध्यान में रखा गया था। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट में रिसर्च एसोसिएट श्रोतिक बोस ने कहा, “यह कोई आश्चर्यजनक या असंभव आंकड़ा नहीं है। ऐसे कई अध्ययन हैं, जो भारत में कचरे के खराब प्रबंधन के बारे में बताते हैं।” सरकार ने अकेले गंगा नदी को साफ करने पर 13,000 करोड़ रुपये खर्च कर दिए, लेकिन ये प्रयास काफी हद तक बेकार साबित हुए। 2019 के एक आकलन में क्वालिटी काउंसिल ऑफ इंडिया ने पाया कि गंगा के किनारे बसे 70% से ज्यादा शहर सीधे अपना कचरा नदी में डाल रहे थे क्योंकि उनके पास कचरे से निपटने वाले संयंत्र नहीं थे। बिना सीवेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट और कचरे के सही तरीके से प्रबंधन न होने के कारण 38,000 मिलियन लीटर से ज्यादा अपशिष्ट जल भारतीय नदियों में मिल रहा है।

AQI worsens in city, but remains ‘poor’

Gurgaon: On Thursday, the city‘s air quality index (AQI), recorded at 291, was just a few points shy of being in the ‘very poor' category. It deteriorated from the previous day's reading of 243 but remained in the ‘poor' category. Of the four monitoring stations in the city, Gwalpahari recorded an AQI of 320 and Vikas Sadan of 306, both ‘very poor'. Teri Gram recorded a relatively lower AQI of 252 (poor). AQI was not recorded at the Sector 51 monitoring station. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), relief is unlikely over the next three days due to unfavourable conditions for pollutant dispersion. "The predominant surface wind, most likely from the north, will prevail at a speed of less than 4kmph during morning hours for the next three days. While northwest wind speed may rise to 6-8kmph during the afternoon, it will decrease by the evening. Smog/moderate fog may occur in most places, and dense fog in isolated places during the morning. Smog or shallow fog is likely in the evening or night, with mainly clear sky till Dec 29," it stated. Environmental specialists attributed the deteriorating air quality to local pollutants. "Vehicular pollution, road dust, rampant construction, and garbage burning incidents are trapping the pollutants in the atmosphere," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. PM2.5 concentrations peaked in Sector 51 (310 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (221 µg/m³), and Vikas Sadan (134 µg/m³). PM10 levels were also the highest in Sector 51 (234 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (215 µg/m³). Vikas Sadan did not record this data. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stipulates annual average permissible limits of 60µg/m³ for PM2.5 and 100 µg/m³ for PM10. According to CPCB guidelines, ‘moderate' AQI can cause respiratory discomfort to individuals with asthma and cardiopulmonary conditions, while ‘poor' AQI typically causes breathing difficulties for most people on extended exposure. AQI classifications range from ‘good' (0-50), ‘satisfactory' (51-100), ‘moderate' (101-200), ‘poor' (201-300), ‘very poor' (301-400), to ‘severe' (401-500).

Delhi-NCR air pollution: What GRAP shouldn’t do. And what it should

Every winter, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in NCR plunges to hazardous levels, govt rolls out its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) – a court-mandated emergency protocol to temporarily reduce air-pollution. Though well-intentioned, some provisions have been doing exactly the opposite. Causing more pollution, or the reduction in pollution—if at all—is too small compared to the havoc it causes to the public. Here is a pick of four such measures that need relook: 1) Don’t stop construction, ask for clean practices The blanket ban on construction and demolition work under GRAP impacts thousands of daily-wage labourers, forcing many to leave the city in winter. There are nearly 13.8 lakh such workers registered in Delhi alone. As TOI has written recently, most of them do not get the compensation they are supposed to get during such bans. That aside, construction stops only in a few places and goes on blatantly in most places—e.g. thousands of home renovations or constructions. It’s beyond any law enforcement agency to identify and halt such work. What halts immediately, however, are much-needed public works like repair of badly broken but heavily used roads. The result: traffic congestion and dust, which compounds the pollution problem. Often, some dust-emitting large govt projects remain exempt from the ban. Possible solution: Mandate green construction practices, instead of halting work. China, for example, is making environmentally sustainable buildings a standard by 2027. Even in 2020, green building initiatives constituted 77% of China's new urban development projects. Law enforcement agencies can do random check of construc tion sites for their adherence to green norms and seal those not in compliance. This will balance the need for pollution control with continuity of economic activities. 2) Barricades = Traffic jams = More pollution In the name of implementing GRAP, the police places barricades across the city, which brings traffic to halt at peak hours. It causes congestion and adds to pollution. To catch a fraction of non-complaint vehicles, every vehicle is halted or slowed. The traffic policemen are compelled to inhale the same toxic air. An officer said they have an app through which they can check the registration of vehicles, and also a booklet with pictures of different vehicles and specifications to help identify the ones that are banned. But that doesn’t help. Possible solution: Govt agencies should ensure that owners of vehicles not supposed to be on road during GRAP receive a message on their phone. While some did receive such messages from the Delhi transport department last year, many didn’t this year. A system should be developed to identify old and banned vehicles plying on the roads through CCTV cameras and penalise them. And if such a system isn’t possible to build, stop this measure all together. The feasibility-desirability mismatch is just too high. 3) Stop chaotic manner of green tax collection At Delhi’s 154 entry points, green tax collection often creates bottlenecks due to manual and haphazard processes. Of these, only 11 are equipped with RFID systems, exacerbating de lays and pollution. On average, 1,05,989 commercial vehicles enter the city every day. Of this, around 70,000 vehicles are cabs. Possible solution: Expand RFID-based contactless systems for smooth tax collection. Create dedicated lanes for commercial and non-commercial vehicles to reduce congestion. Hope springs eternal 4) Anti-smog guns, more hype than help Deployed in three shifts across the city, anti-smog guns spray water to settle dust but often obstruct traffic and waste resources. They hinder the movement of traffic by blocking one lane of busy roads during peak hours. The sights of cabs or private cars tailing smoke-guns to clean their windscreen are all too common! According to official data, 200 anti-smog guns have been deployed in the city. Possible solution: Assess the utility of anti-smog guns with a data-driven approach. Deploy them during non-peak hours to minimise congestion and focus, instead, on long-term dust control measures. 5 Parking fee hikes need better public transport Increasing parking fees under GRAP aims to deter private vehicles but overlooks Delhi’s glaring public transport gaps. Delhi Metro is the most preferred modes of transport, but last-mile connectivity is still a big challenge. Delhi currently has 7,683 buses, including govtrun DTC and cluster buses, but the number is significantly lower than the demand. On an average, 70 buses – both DTC and cluster – break down in the city every day, causing significant traffic congestion and inconvenience to commuters. There is no parking management plan either. In 2020, the Supreme Court had directed formulation of a comprehensive parking policy, which is nowhere in sight. Possible solution: Once the last-mile connectivity of metro improves, DTC buses are adequate and reliable and there is a single ticketing of all local commuting options, the use of private vehicles will come down on its own. While GRAP’s intent to curb air pollution is commendable, its execution is often devoid of ground realities. For meaningful change, Delhi needs long-term, structural reforms that address pollution at its roots rather than relying on temporary fixes that disrupt lives and livelihoods. GRAP days What is GRAP? GRAP is a set of emergency pollution-control measures ?rst formulated in 2016 and implemented from 2017 onwards under the guidance of the Supreme Court and various environmental authorities. It operates in stages, with restrictions escalating as pollution worsens. Expert opinions GRAP measures are short-term emergency responses, not long-term solutions. The city needs year-round actions like fleet electrification, better public transport, green construction technology, and effective waste management to eliminate the need for GRAP. —Anumita RoyChowdhury | Executive director, CSE Real estate must adopt dust-control measures and sustainable practices like prefabrication and ready-mix concrete. Anti-smog guns and mechanised sweeping vehicles should have staggered schedules to reduce congestion-induced pollution—Sunil Dahiya | Founder, Envirocatalysts

Delhi pollution: GRAP causing more problems that it solves?

Delhi's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), designed to combat winter air pollution, is causing more problems than it solves, according to critics, ToI reported on December 23. Several measures, meant to reduce pollution, are disrupting daily life and may even be worsening air quality, said the report (by Priyangi Agarwal). GRAP: Experts' take Experts emphasise that GRAP is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution. “GRAP measures are short-term emergency responses, not long-term solutions. The city needs year-round actions like fleet electrification, better public transport, green construction technology, and effective waste management to eliminate the need for GRAP,” Anumita RoyChowdhury, Executive Director, CSE, told ToI.