Delhi gasps again: Cloud seeding, smog towers, odd-even — will any ofit really clear the air?
Is cloud seeding the solution to Delhi’s pollution crisis? Apparently not. Or will odd-even, smog towers or water sprinkling make a real difference? As Delhi gasps for breath once again, govts, citizens and experts weigh in with a range of measures — each with its own promise and pitfalls. VEHICULAR POLLUTION: Improved public transport Pros: Much has been done to strengthen public transport to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road. The number of public buses is inadequate to meet requirements, especially during peak hours. Facts: A public fleet of 5,327 buses. Delhi told the Supreme Court in 2018 that the city requires 11,000 buses. People who are habitual users of private vehicles are unlikely to shift back to public transport. Cons: Poorly maintained and recklessly driven buses are often used for commercial advertisements. Status: As of Jan 20, 2020, two low-floor electric wirerouted CNG buses were launched, causing 26 deaths and 130 injuries. Last-mile connectivity Pros: Metro and city buses lack last-mile connectivity. Introducing e-rickshaw and aggregator options across the city can ensure proper public transport usage. Cons: Poor maintenance and reckless driving by erickshaw operators create chaos. Carpooling Pros: Can reduce the number of cars on the road, especially during peak hours. Cons: Some people may find it inconvenient or unsafe. RFID at border areas Pros: Helps in identifying vehicles that enter Delhi without paying taxes. Facts: There are 13 entry points where green taxes are collected online; only 13 have RFID. Cons: Manual collection causes traffic jams and congestion. Congestion tax Pros: Fees on vehicles entering congested zones discourage car use and encourage public transport use. Successfully implemented in New York City, London, and Singapore. Cons: May affect low-income individuals. DUST POLLUTION: Paving of roadsides Pros: Helps reduce airborne particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Cons: Government agencies sometimes plant exotic species that fail to survive Delhi’s climate. Water sprinklers/smog guns Pros: Helps temporarily settle pollutants. Cons: Effects are short-lived as dust resurfaces quickly. Management of construction and demolition waste Pros: Proper handling of C&D waste can significantly reduce dust. Facts: Delhi produces 5,746 MT of C&D debris daily, of which only 2,500 MT is sent to recycling plants. Cons: Enforcement of bylaws remains poor. Mechanised road sweeping Pros: More efficient in removing fine particulate matter from roads compared to manual cleaning. Cons: Few government agencies have assessed their effectiveness. OPEN BURNING: Providing heaters to low-income groups Pros: Prevents open burning by those trying to keep warm. Cons: Many slums, markets, and workshops lack access to alternative means of heating. Status: No policy discourag open burning. Proper disposal of waste Facts: Delhi generates around 11,300 tonnes of waste daily. 7,300 MT goes to Bhalswa and Okhla landfills; 4,000 MT to Ghazipur. Cons: Waste segregated into mixed garbage mounts to more fires at landfills. STUBBLE BURNING: Pros: In situ and ex situ management of crop residue is crucial; stubble burning significantly affects Delhi’s air for about 45 days annually. Cons: Lack of machinery and inadequate crop diversification hinder progress. 100% Door-to-Door Collection Pros: Essential for effective waste management. Cons: City agencies lack logistics and coordination with residents and informal waste workers. OTHER SOURCES: Power plants Pros: Curtailing emissions and better fly ash management is needed. Facts: Emission standards in NCR districts are less stringent than Delhi. Some deadline extensions have been given. Cons: 90 emission norms have been relaxed. Industrial pollution Pros: Many NCR industries use natural gas instead of coal. Cons: No penalties for non-compliance exist; random inspection process affects regulation. Ban on coal or firewood in eateries Pros: Helps cut local pollution. Cons: The ban is not widely followed. Norms in NCR districts Pros: Emission control is critical. Cons: Many districts violate norms followed in Delhi. Green building norms Pros: Promote sustainable, low-emission construction. Cons: Sourcing eco-friendly items can be difficult. Expert speak: “We must target pollution emission reduction across major sources — power, industry, transport, waste and construction — within the airshed. Industries must switch to cleaner fuels, especially in NCR districts. Accurate data is crucial and, so, no high-influence activities should take place near monitoring stations” SUNIL DAHIYA, founder and lead analyst, EnviroCatalysts “We experience rain for a maximum of 60 days a year compared with about 300 days in European countries. We must try to keep our soil moist with vegetation cover, pay attention to natural land use patterns, restrict earthwork and avoid burning garbage or other items. There should be controlled growth in the number of vehicles, an adequate public transport system, better management of arterial roads” DIPANKAR SAHA, former head, Air Laboratory, Central Pollution Control Board “A time-bound implementation of priority measures is needed. Ensure a significant clean energy transition in industry, vehicles and households; implement a vehicle electrification programme with integrated public transport systems to meet at least 80% of travel demand; achieve 100% collection, segregation and material recovery from all waste streams along with remediation of legacy waste; redevelop road network & public spaces for dust control, walking, cycling and greening” ANUMITA ROYCHOWDHURY, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment