Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to dangerous levels in recent days, igniting north India's battle for clean air even before winter arrives. However, it is just not the problem of the national capital. Several cities in North India are facing the same problem of severe air pollution. While Delhi is often regarded as the most polluted city in India, this time, two cities from Haryana have taken the top spots. Check out the list of the top 10 most polluted cities in India below. Delhi’s Rising Air Pollution Delhi is at the top of the list of the nation's most polluted cities, according to real-time data. Due to the concerning rise in air pollution in Delhi, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) was put into effect in Delhi-NCR on Monday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) daily AQI Bulletin, Delhi's average daily AQI was 310, falling into the "Very Poor" category. Rising Pollution in Smaller Cities In addition to Delhi, several tier II and tier III cities in the North Indian states experience their worst levels of air pollution throughout the winter. According to Down to Earth, which cited a thorough analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, North and East India continued to be the most polluted areas over the winter.
Gurgaon: The city's air remained in the ‘poor' category for the third consecutive day. The air quality index (AQI) rose to 226 on Tuesday, while it was recorded at 221 on the previous day. Sector 51 station recorded the highest AQI at 256, followed by Teri Gram (240) and Vikas Sadan (197). No data was available at Gwalpahari monitoring station. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), surface winds with speeds ranging from 4 kmph to 12 kmph are expected in the region for the next six days. The AQI is likely to deteriorate to ‘very poor' in the coming days as the prevailing meteorological conditions and calm winds are unfavourable for the effective dispersion of pollutants. "The AQI is likely to deteriorate to very poor in the coming days since the wind direction is likely to change to north-westerly on Wednesday, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 is predicted to rise to 11% on Wednesday and further to 15% on Thursday. ," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. So far this year, the state has recorded 655 cases of stubble burning, releasing particulate pollutants. According to CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40µg/m³ and 60µg/m³, respectively. On Tuesday, the PM2.5 level was highest in Sector 51 (203 µg/m³), followed by 189 µg/m³ in Teri Gram, and 181 µg/m³ in Vikas Sadan. The level of PM10 was the highest at Sector 51 (221 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (211µg/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn't record PM10 data. The share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 is predicted to rise to 11% on Wednesday and further to 15% on Thursday. According to an analysis by Climate Trends, a think tank, Haryana and Punjab recorded fluctuations in fire incidents between 2019 and 2023, with notable reductions in 2022 and 2023. The think tank's analysis of satellite data on fire incidents in Haryana showed that the fire counts dropped from 14,122 in 2019 to 7,959 in 2023, with fire activity consistently higher between Sept and Dec. While Gurgaon, Mewat, and Jhajjhar showed notable rises, Karnal and Kaithal had approximately 86% and 78% fewer cases of stubble burning, respectively. The report also stated that Delhi's air health was significantly impacted by these fire incidents. On days without fires, the city's AQI averaged 175 (moderate). However, during the same stubble-burning season, AQI increased to 233 (poor), and on days when fires exceeded climatological averages, AQI spiked to 337 (very poor). Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI spiked to 327 on Tuesday, deteriorating from 310 a day earlier, both in the 'very poor' category. No relief is expected from the haze and toxic pollution for the next few days as pollution is predicted to remain in the red category. Tuesday was the foulest day since Feb 14, when AQI was 341. Though the overall AQI remained in the 'very poor' range for the second consecutive day, Anand Vihar exceeded the city average, recording 417 in the ‘severe' category at 4pm to become the most polluted locality in the capital, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
The transportation sector is a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions, ..
To say that Indians love their food would be a gross understatement. Whether we are tucking into Hyderabadi biryani, a masala dosa or any of the varieties of street food like chaat and vada pav, we eat not only to satisfy our taste buds and hunger but also to connect with others and reinforce our cultural identities. But will the foods we love outlast a climate crisis that is disrupting our agricultural system and impacting the nutrients and flavour profiles of the crops we grow? A new book by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) demonstrates how the colours, flavours and joys of eating locally-grown dishes goes hand in hand with preserving the ecology and biodiversity of the regions where they are grown. “First Food: Future of Taste” showcases over 100 recipes from across India so that readers can learn how to cook nourishing and delicious three-course meals to be served alongside tasty drinks and chutneys. We spoke with Sunita Narain, director general of the CSE and editor of Down to Earth magazine who presided over the creation of the book, on the challenges of making our agricultural systems more climate-resilient, how changing your diet can impact farmer incomes, and the future of veganism. Should we reassess the Green Revolution’s impact in light of the biodiversity loss and climate breakdown? AThere is already a push towards agroecological practices such as organic farming and climate-resilient agriculture in the country. Millets, which are water-prudent, have been promoted, too. Farmers are also taking up natural or zero-budget farming. These farming methods can be as productive as conventional farming if practised correctly. CSE has been promoting the inclusion of more biodiversity on the plate to increase resilience to crop failure, disasters and climate change. The four volumes in the First Food series provide individuals with ways to include biodiversity on their plate. QWhat are the barriers to overhauling our present agricultural system in order to benefit the living planet? AModern cultivation systems rely heavily on farm machinery, and changing to a more labour-intensive system might be difficult. In the case of biodiversity-based foods, over the last few decades, we have not invested in preserving the knowledge of how these ingredients could be used as food. Efforts have not been made to protect the local environments/niches where this biodiversity thrives. Additionally, the seeds and planting materials needed to include these ingredients in the fields are unavailable. Fields of Finger Millet, commonly known as Ragi in India Fields of Finger Millet, commonly known as Ragi in IndiaPhoto: Shutterstock QWhat practical actions can we take to signal to farmers to change what they grow? AIncreasing the demand for food is the biggest signal for the farmer. The popularity of millet is a clear example of this. There are specialised markets across Delhi that sell ingredients from different states. These establishments exist because demand can drive businesses. Over the recent years, we have seen ingredients such as lettuce, rocket, quinoa, moringa, sabja, and chia become popular in the country as they became global fads. What we need to do is push local ingredients in the same way. Farmers are taking up natural or zero budget farming. These farming methods can be as productive as conventional farming if practiced correctly QHow can we make millets more affordable to consumers while benefiting their growers financially and materially? AWe're fortunate to maintain a culture that embraces millets in our diet, which is evident in festivals and exclusive recipes. However, over the past 50 years, reliance on major grains like wheat and rice has marginalised millets. Lack of technological investment in harvesting and processing, relying on antiquated methods, exacerbates this decline. To mainstream millets, this must change. Moreover, insufficient high-quality seeds hinder increased production. Addressing these challenges, the government should support millet farmers, possibly by integrating millets into public distribution systems or school meals for guaranteed market access.
Delhi NCR is facing a serious air pollution problem as winter approaches. The air quality index (AQI) has reached 400, indicating hazardous levels. Shambhavi Shukla from the Centre for Science and Environment explains the causes and possible solutions. The pollution is worsening due to low wind speed and increased traffic during festivals. Pollution levels have moved from moderate to very poor in recent days. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is in place, but its measures should be enforced year-round. Public transport improvements and reduced vehicle use are suggested to ease congestion and pollution. Health impacts are severe, affecting children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. Air pollution can cause asthma, bronchitis, and heart issues. PM 2.5 particles are particularly harmful as they enter the bloodstream, affecting overall health. Delhi has seen a 7% pollution reduction since 2019 but needs a 60% decrease to meet safe standards. Waste management is lacking in some areas, leading to waste burning. Vehicle congestion remains high despite efforts like BS-6 fuel and electric vehicles. Local sources contribute significantly to pollution, with transport being a major factor. Regional cooperation among states is essential to address the issue effectively. Individuals can help by using public transport and reporting illegal activities like waste burning. Public awareness and individual actions are crucial in tackling this problem. People should reduce private vehicle use and conserve electricity at home. These small steps can collectively make a difference in improving air quality.
दीवाली से पहले दिल्ली की हवा लगातार खराब होती जा रही है. राजधानी की हवा इतनी दमघोंटू हो गई है कि सांस लेना मुश्किल होने लगा है. हवा की क्वालिटी खतरे के लाल निशान तक पहुंच गई है. पराली को इसकी मुख्य वजह माना जा रहा है. केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (CPCB) के मुताबिक, दिल्ली का औसत वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (AQI) बेहद खराब श्रेणी में 317 पहुंच गया है. इसे देखते हुए GRAP-2 लागू कर दिया गया है. इसके लागू होने के बाद वायु प्रदूषण की रोकथाम के लिए फोकस और टारगेट एक्शन सुनिश्चित करने की बात कही गई है. इस दौरान यहां वैक्यूम से सफाई और निगरानी की जा रही है. GRAP-2 के दौरान लोगों से पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट का इस्तेमाल करने के लिए कहा गया है जबकि निजी गाड़ियों के उपयोग को कम करने की बात कही गई है.
Views and proposals from civil society The international financial architecture is in urgent need of reform. In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, it is "outdated, dysfunctional and unjust". The main institutions were created 80 years ago in a transatlantic agreement, at a time when many of the world's nation-states of today were still colonies. Moreover, the institutions have failed in their mission to prevent and mitigate crises and to mobilize sufficient financing for internationally agreed development goals. The reform of the international financial architecture is currently a major topic on the United Nations agenda, at major events such as the UN Summit of the Future and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. Parallel discussions are taking place in other fora, such as the G20 or the governance bodies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. To inform these processes, independent researchers from academia and civil society have written this new research report. In eight chapters, the authors rethink the financial architecture and make proposals for new foundations, for fundamental reforms towards more legitimate and more effective institutions.
New Delhi: In addition to the 13 designated pollution hotspots already identified in Delhi, nine more locations are now emerging as areas with high PM 2.5 concentrations. These newly identified locations include Mandir Marg, Pusa, Nehru Nagar, Sonia Vihar, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, ITO, Patparganj, Lodhi Road (IITM station), and Alipur. According to TOI, the original 13 pollution hotspots, identified in 2018, include Anand Vihar, Mundka, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla, Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Narela, Ashok Vihar, and Dwarka. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of the Central Pollution Control Board’s real-time air quality data reveals that these nine new locations have pollution levels almost as bad—or worse—than the original hotspots. Emerging hotspots such as Pusa, Lodhi Road, and Alipur have been identified, but unlike the original hotspots, they have not yet been prioritized for pollution mitigation measures, such as water sprinkling or enforcement actions against violators.
Satellite imagery of Delhi has begun to record instances of farm fires, data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) shows. While farm fires in neighbouring Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are on the rise, Delhi till October 21 has recorded 11 instances of stubble burning so far, which is the highest for the Capital in the last four years. Delhi logged a total of five cases in the entire season between September 15 and November 30 last year, 10 in 2022, four in 2021 and nine in 2020, data available by IARI’s Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (Creams) showed. Data for Delhi was not maintained before 2020. Comparative figures also show an increase in numbers so far. Till October 21 last year, Delhi had recorded two farm fires, three in 2022, none in 2021 and six in 2020. All cases logged this year are from the north and northwest districts – near the Delhi-Haryana border, Creams said. VK Sehgal, professor and principal scientist at IARI and part of Creams, said the two districts were known for growing paddy, but a clearer trend will emerge once data is gathered for another month. “Though an anomaly, we will have to wait and see until mid-November if we are recording more cases in Delhi or not. If the count goes up to 20 or 30, then we may have to assess why this is the case this year,” he said. Paras Tyagi, an activist with the NGO CYCLE India, which works with Delhi’s villages for development, said a delayed monsoon is likely to have played a part. “The withdrawal of the monsoon was delayed and most fields remained flooded throughout the monsoon season. It is likely some farmers felt the window of harvesting and growing the next crop became shorter and opted for this methodology,” he said, adding that farmers in Delhi also did not have access to happy seeders or other such machinery. Experts said instances in Delhi are not likely to have a significant impact on its air quality. “These are limited cases, but can be assessed once the season progresses. Sometimes, prolonged rains can lead to concentrated burning, but in Delhi’s case, these instances are still very few and far between,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive, director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment.
Nehru Nagar, Sonia Vihar, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, ITO and Patparganj are among the emerging pollution hotspots in the city, exhibiting high PM2.5 concentrations. The Centre for Science and Environment's analysis of the Central Pollution Control Board's real-time air quality data shows that there are nine locations in Delhi with almost the same or worse pollution levels than the city's 13 pollution hotspots designated in 2018. Among the emerging hotspots are Pusa, Lodhi Road (IITM station) and Alipur. At the original hotspots, agencies concerned focus on pollution mitigation measures like water sprinkling and enforcement teams act against violators. The new hotspots haven't been prioritised for similar action. Data shows that Nehru Nagar near Lajpat Nagar recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 118 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022, 120 in 2023 and 90 micrograms per cubic metre till Oct 20 this year, all much higher than the national annual ambient average PM2.5 level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. In the last three years, Nehru Nagar has fared worse than most original hotspots. Lodhi Road (IITM station) is another non-hotspot which has seen toxic pollution levels at 118 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022, 111 in 2023 and 75 so far in 2024. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, said, "The only way to prevent the proliferation of new hotspots is to implement city-wide stringent measures to reduce emissions from all key pollution sources." Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst, Envirocatalysts, said no new hotspots should be ignored and should become part of the focus areas. "Systematic action year-round is necessary to reduce emissions and kill local and regional pollution at the source. Apart from original hotspots, the new hotspots should also feature in the list of places for targeted action," said Dahiya. In 2023, the locations in the capital that showed the worst pollution levels included ITO (100 micrograms per cubic metre), Patparganj (109), Sonia Vihar (108), Alipur and Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (99 each), Mandir Marg (94) and Pusa (92).
This post on World Bank Report Highlights Poverty and Climate Challenges has been created based on the article “Extreme weather obstacle to an equitable world, as 3.53 billion people continue to live in poverty” published in Down to Earth on 21st October 2024. Why in news? According to the World Bank’s latest report, extreme weather will be a significant obstacle to achieving a more equitable world, with 3.53 billion people still living in poverty in 2024. Findings of the report 1. Climate shocks, including extreme weather events, devastate livelihoods and trap vulnerable populations in a cycle of poverty. These shocks are especially difficult to recover from, particularly for those living in low-income countries without access to adequate infrastructure and resources. 2. In 2024, 692 million people are living in extreme poverty, defined as subsisting on less than $2.15 per day. When measured against the higher poverty standard of $6.85 per day, 43.6% of the global population or approximately 3.53 billion people are classified as living in poverty. 3. The slow progress in poverty alleviation reflects a “polycrisis” caused by factors such as the pandemic, slow economic growth, increased conflict, and climate change. 4. In 2024, South Asia is home to 1.48 billion poor people, while Sub-Saharan Africa has 1.11 billion poor people. Together, these regions account for 73% of the global poor. 5. By 2030, 7.3% of the world’s population could still be living on less than $2.15 a day, which is more than double the global goal of reducing extreme poverty to 3%. 6. Long-Term Poverty Reduction Goals: It could take over a century to lift individuals above the $6.85 per day threshold, according to current projections. 7. Rising Income Disparities: The World Bank’s report warns of growing income inequality, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, with many countries in these regions showing Gini index scores above 40. 8. High Inequality in Southern and Central Africa: Inequality is most pronounced in Southern and Central Africa, exacerbating the challenge of poverty reduction. 9. Climate Shocks and Economic Growth i) Vulnerability to Extreme Weather: South Asia, with 88.1% of its population exposed to climate risks, and Sub-Saharan Africa, home to the highest number of people at severe risk, are particularly vulnerable to climate shocks such as floods, heatwaves, and cyclones. ii) Need for Inclusive Economic Growth: The World Bank emphasizes the importance of inclusive economic growth to lift people out of poverty. This growth must be complemented by investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and access to markets. 10. Building Resilience to Climate Impacts i) Targeted Climate Adaptation Strategies: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia require targeted adaptation strategies to withstand the impacts of extreme weather. The report calls for stronger social protection systems, including healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. ii) Progressive Fiscal Policies: Countries must adopt progressive fiscal policies that increase domestic revenue while reducing inequality, ensuring that vulnerable populations benefit from economic growth. iii) Strengthening Insurance Mechanisms: To protect vulnerable populations from falling deeper into poverty during climate disasters, the report recommends strengthening insurance mechanisms and other safety nets.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at CSE, emphasized the need for city-wide stringent measures to curb emissions ...
Every great city has its great joys and its great sorrows. So Delhi, a radial melting pot of cultures that has history at every corner, greenery on every sidewalk, and changes clothes and colours with the seasons, has been plagued with debilitating concerns over women's safety, and with something noxious, deleterious, downright nasty, in the air. According to multiple surveys in recent years by organisations ranging from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the University of Surrey, and from the University of California at Berkeley to the Indian Institutes of Technology in Delhi, Kanpur and Mumbai, the city is now the most polluted in the world. An inglorious, undisputed leader in a dishonour roll that features 13 Indian cities among the top 20. A Delhi resident is today exposed to an average of 153 micrograms per cubic metre of PM 2.5-the smallest and most harmful of all measurable particulate matter-which is 15 times higher than the WHO's recommended annual average. And while this data may seem too obscure to raise alarm bells, and the effects of pollution too insidious to rattle the cage, disease and death is looming. Preying first on the most vulnerable-children, seniors, those with respiratory disorders-and slowly devouring even the most hardy. The stench of smoke, burning of the eyes, smoggy mornings, hazy nights, are all symptoms of a deeper malaise. Doctors associate high levels of suspended particulate matter and sulphur dioxide with increased mortality, morbidity and impaired pulmonary function. They say that fine particulates penetrate the respiratory system, and can alter the immune system, impair the liver and the kidney, and cause brain damage in children resulting in lower IQ, hyperactivity and lower concentration. The rise in carbon monoxide levels affects the cardiovascular system, particularly among children, and can attack the nervous system. Two studies endorsed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2012 said that one in five adults and one in four children in Delhi suffered from upper respiratory diseases, and that these numbers were on an upward trend. There is no dispute any longer that drastic action is needed. In this winter of discontent when the ambient air quality is at its worst, emergency measures have suddenly become the order of the day as Delhi has emerged all of a sudden as a test case for pollution reforms that will have implications for cities such as, Gwalior, Patna and Ahmedabad that are suffering from similar problems (see box). The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has announced a series of half-measures-but measures nonetheless-to kick-start the fight. It has been buttressed by the judiciary, which has radical ideas of its own. So while one group has decided to restrict Delhi's private four-wheelers to even and odd registration plates on alternate days, a battle of one-upmanship has begun in which the other wants to restrict or phase out diesel vehicles altogether. Ignoring the hue and cry and the logistic nightmare both these plans throw up, the executive and the judiciary seem determined to finally bell the cat. While this is a good issue to be squabbling over, some key questions remain: what does the cat really look like, how did it become so menacing, is the bell loud enough, and are they trying to bell the wrong cat altogether? Perhaps the first step towards understanding Delhi's particular pollution problem is to understand the city-its aspirations, and its design. Delhi is primarily a network of localities, or a conglomerate of villages, linked by roads that intersect, bifurcate and overlap, like spaghetti in a bowl. It's a series of concentric circles with numerous entry and exit points, and has almost no dedicated commercial centre, and no clear housing pattern. It is as long as it is wide, unlike Mumbai which has changed gradually from a straight line along the sea to a narrow isosceles triangle. Its population is growing at an alarming rate, having nearly doubled from 10 million to 20 million in the last two decades. And new satellite towns such as Gurgaon and Noida, which now form an ominous National Capital Region because of seamless urban integration, are also as commercial as they are residential. DESIGN FLAW It is, in other words, a landlocked cauldron of smoke, surrounded by an even smokier periphery, without the natural advantage of replenishing its air that coastal cities have. On top of that, it has an organic growth pattern that makes it arduous to provide a mass transit system that works for everyone because of a lack of clarity between where people live, and where they work. It is, as Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-Research and Advocacy at Centre of Science and Environment (CSE), puts it, "suffering from a design flaw". And as Rahul Mehrotra, urban planner and professor of Urban Design and Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, describes it, "a victim of poor land-use planning". It's because of this haphazard structure that the greatest middle-class dream in Delhi is individual mobility, and the entire focus of its transport system has been to support private vehicles. To have made it in Delhi, is to have wheels under you. The city, as a result, has a total of 8.8 million vehicles, and adds an average of 1,400 vehicles to its arsenal every month. This is more than the vehicles in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata combined, though about 60 per cent of these are two-wheelers.
Days after Dussehra, when Ravana effigies were burned across Delhi and the “complete ban” on firecrackers went unenforced, the capital found itself plunged into its familiar grey haze of toxic smog. On October 22, the air quality index (AQI) plummeted to 310—classified as “very poor”. On October 14, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage I of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The CAQM, established in 2021 as a statutory body, oversees air quality management in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas. GRAP, which operates under the Environment Ministry, is an emergency response system triggered by poor air quality. It has four stages based on AQI thresholds: Stage I for “poor” air (201-300), Stage II for “very poor” (301-400), Stage III for “severe” (401-450), and Stage IV for “severe+” (above 450). On October 22, the CAQM issued further orders for the implementation of Stage II of GRAP, which includes measures such as vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling of roads, inspection of construction sites, and a ban on the use of coal, firewood, and diesel generator sets. An 11-point action plan is to be implemented across the NCR that mandates the deployment of adequate personnel at traffic congestion points, discouraging private transport by hiking parking fees, and increasing the frequency of bus and metro services. On the same day, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced a series of anti-pollution measures. The minister said that another 1,800 traffic personnel will be positioned in 97 traffic congestion spots. Rai also added that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will deploy another 6,200 workers to increase water spraying at pollution hotspots. In late September, Delhi launched a 21-point Winter Action Plan to curb air pollution. According to Rai, drones, for the first time, will monitor air quality at Delhi’s pollution hotspots and a special task force will ensure enforcement of pollution control measures. The plan also includes an anti-dust campaign as well as emergency measures such as artificial rain and a vehicle rationing scheme. One of the most contentious sources of pollution is stubble burning in neighbouring States such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. On October 16, the Supreme Court criticised Haryana and Punjab for failing to take action against individuals involved in crop burning, summoning their Chief Secretaries to the next hearing on October 23. Political slugfest As the lungs of the capital deteriorate, political parties seem to be passing the buck, especially as the Delhi State Assembly election approaches. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reportedly said that the issue of stubble burning is not limited to any one State, it is the issue of the whole of northern India. Delhi’s incumbent Chief Minister Atishi criticised BJP’s “dirty politics” for the increasing air and water pollution. She attributed the issue to the inefficiency of the BJP-ruled States of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which failed to regulate stubble burning, worsening Delhi’s pollution levels. Citing reports from the Indian Agricultural Institute, Atishi said that while cases of farm fires in Punjab have dropped by 27 per cent, they have surged in the neighbouring States of Haryana and Punjab. “This clearly shows the dirty politics of the BJP. If the Punjab government can reduce parali [stubble] burning, why can’t the BJP governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh do it?” On the other hand, BJP Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva said that Delhi is turning into a gas chamber and that the Atishi-led government has failed to address the primary causes of pollution. Caught in this political slugfest, it is the residents of Delhi who continue to suffer. Rise in respiratory conditions The impact on public health has been worrying. The number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is rising day by day, says Amit Suri, head of Respiratory Medicine at New Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. “Atmospheric pollution plays a major role in this,” he adds. “While COPD is usually associated with smokers, we’re also seeing non-smokers developing similar symptoms due to exposure to pollution.” He has noticed an annual surge in patients with respiratory conditions as soon as winter sets in and especially after Diwali. “Many patients come to our chest OPD with symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. Some have prolonged fever due to infections.” The hospital witnesses a 20 to 25 per cent spike in patients with respiratory problems post-Diwali when pollution peaks. Children under five, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems are among the most vulnerable, says Suri. Those who are subject to prolonged outdoor exposure, such as autorickshaw drivers, rickshaw pullers, and traffic police are particularly at risk, he adds. A “Pollution-Related Illness Clinic” has been established at the hospital bringing together specialists in respiratory health, dermatology, ophthalmology, and psychiatry. “We have a list of some dos and don’ts: avoid going outdoors, especially early in the morning or after sunset; use an N95 mask rather than cloth or surgical masks; use air purifiers, and do not open car windows; use cleaner fuels and do not use charcoal or wood,” says Suri. While some Delhi residents can take measures to shield themselves from pollution, others, like street vendors, who spend long hours outdoors, are particularly vulnerable. Arbind Singh, National Coordinator of the National Association of Street Vendors of India points out that while guidelines advise people to stay inside, vendors cannot afford to do so. “Even during peak pollution, there are vendors outside trying to earn their living,” Singh says, adding that street vendors lack health benefits. “In a city like Delhi, there is no access to Ayushman Bharat, so vendors cannot benefit from such schemes.” In his experience, vendors suffer from asthma and breathlessness after long hours on the streets. Children, too, remain at high risk, especially when exposed to PM2.5, one of the most dangerous components of Delhi’s air pollution. Aparajita Gautam, president of Delhi Parents Association, told Frontline, “After every Diwali, due to stubble burning and other reasons, there is a period of severe pollution and yet neither the Centre nor State governments do anything.” In 2023, when Delhi’s AQI crossed the 450 mark, nearly 10 times the acceptable limit, schools were shut and classes held online, a trend that has persisted for the past few years. This not only disrupts education but also poses several logistical questions regarding the sustainability of shutting schools each time pollution levels rise. “If schools close, the authorities will inevitably switch to online classes, given that this is a crucial period to complete the syllabus. In their attempt to escape one challenge, they end up pushing the children into another,” says Gautam, underscoring the difficulties children face. “A report by AIIMS shows that there is an increase in myopia cases in children. What would five to six hours of screentime do to their eyes?” She adds that many children from lower-income families lack devices and stable Internet connections. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of the Centre for Science and Environment, acknowledges that while pollution levels remain dire, the long-term trend shows an improvement. “Overall, the trend up to last year indicates that the annual average pollution has declined, with the curve not trending upwards.” She adds that long-term measures yielded the most benefits. “The Delhi government implemented CNG programmes for all its public and local commercial transport. It also banned fuels such as charcoal and furnace oil.” However, Roychowdhury believes that the Winter Action Plan and the GRAP are only short-term interventions. “The GRAP is a more reactive measure, implemented only when pollution peaks. As it is a temporary solution, it fails to make a meaningful impact in the long term.”