Air pollution | Delhi chokes on smog as AQI remains in ‘severe’ zone

Air Pollution in Delhi Reaches Severe Levels

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.

Current Air Quality Index (AQI) Levels

• Anand Vihar: 452 (Severe)
• RK Puram: 433 (Severe)
• Punjabi Bagh: 460 (Severe)
• Sri Aurobindo Marg: 382 (Severe)
• Shadipur: 413 (Severe)

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.

Voices of Concern

• 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, told ANI, “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,” Mr. Mishra told ANI.

Supreme Court’s Intervention

The Supreme Court 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.

The top court 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.

Furthermore, 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.

Causes of Air Pollution in Delhi

• Dust and vehicular pollution
• Dry-cold weather
• Stubble burning
• Burning crop residues after the harvest season
• Commuting

Air pollution levels can be high during the winter months due to these factors. 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.

Health Risks

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.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The issue of air pollution in Delhi is directly connected to SDG 3, as it poses a significant threat to public health and well-being. The article mentions that the deteriorating air quality is proving to be a public health hazard, causing breathing problems and increasing the risk of lung-related diseases.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The issue of air pollution in Delhi is also connected to SDG 11, as it highlights the need to pay special attention to air quality in cities. The article mentions that the air quality in Delhi is in the ‘severe’ category, indicating the adverse environmental impact of the city’s air pollution.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The issue of air pollution in Delhi is indirectly connected to SDG 13, as it contributes to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The article mentions that the Supreme Court expressed concern over the hazardous air quality and directed farmers to stop stubble burning, which is one of the major contributors to air pollution.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination

The article highlights the need to address air pollution in Delhi to reduce the adverse health effects on residents. This aligns with Target 3.9 of SDG 3, which aims to reduce deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution.

Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

The article emphasizes the adverse environmental impact of air pollution in Delhi and the need to address it. This aligns with Target 11.6 of SDG 11, which aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality.

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

The article mentions that the Supreme Court directed farmers to stop stubble burning, which contributes to air pollution. This aligns with Target 13.1 of SDG 13, which aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, including air pollution caused by agricultural practices.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions the Air Quality Index (AQI) as a measure of air quality. The AQI is a specific indicator that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. It provides a numerical value to represent the level of air pollution and can be used to assess the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce air pollution.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: thehindu.com

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