Delhi-NCR chokes in toxic smog: What can be done to improve the AQI

On Friday (November 3), Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit a year-high of 471, falling into the 'severe plus' category. This marked a significant deterioration as it was at 422 on Thursday at 10 pm and had been steadily worsening in recent days.

The 24-hour average AQI was 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday.

The city's AQI increased rapidly from 351 at 10 am on Thursday to 471 at 9 am on Friday.

This was primarily due to unfavorable weather conditions and a sharp rise in crop residue burning in neighbouring states.

Actions taken by the government

• Immediate ban on non-essential construction work and closure of primary schools in Delhi-NCR.

• Imposition of restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in several areas.

• Announcement of the ban on construction work in areas where the AQI remains above the 400-mark for five consecutive days.

• Implementation of a 15-point action plan to mitigate winter air pollution, focusing on dust pollution, vehicular emissions, and open burning of garbage.

• Comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers in the city.

• Launch of the "Red Light on Gaadi Off" campaign to reduce vehicular pollution.

• Plans to hire 1,000 private CNG buses to enhance public transportation and decrease vehicular pollution.

What else can be done?

Provide proper equipment for stubble burning

• The main focus should be on the issue of crop-stubble burning in states like Punjab and Haryana.
• To tackle stubble burning and handle crop residue effectively, Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines should be provided to farmers at subsidised prices.
• These machines include Super SMS, Happy Seeder, paddy straw chopper, mulcher, Smart Seeder, Zero-till Drill, surface seeder, Super Seeder, crop reaper, Shrub Master, Rotary Slasher, and Reversible MB Plough for managing stubble right in the fields.
• The Centre and the state governments involved should work to find long-term solutions.
• The neighboring states of Delhi should encourage their farmers to recycle stubble for purposes like making fertilisers and household products.

Strict ban on fire crackers

• The use of fireworks significantly contributes to increased pollution levels.
• As a result, the government should launch awareness campaigns to educate people about the harmful effects of fireworks' smoke.
• Making sure that the ban on firecrackers is being strictly followed will not allow pollution to escalate.

Mask a must

• Given Delhi's annual smog issues from October to December, there is a call for government initiatives.
• Suggestions include distributing free masks to the public or making them available at discounted prices.
• This step can help residents protect themselves from harmful air pollution.

Traffic regulations and carpooling initiatives

• To combat pollution, the return of the Odd-Even Policy, where cars with odd and even number plates would alternate on the roads, will help control the situation.
• Additionally, encouraging carpooling can be another effective step to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, ultimately reducing pollution levels.

Control measures for waste and plastic burning

• It's essential to make strict rules that say you can't burn trash, leaves, or plastic in the open, especially in the wintertime.
• We should also give big fines to people who break these rules. This will help stop pollution.
• To fix the problem from its main source, we need to make sure the municipal corporations do a better job of getting rid of garbage and managing waste properly.

Enhancing pollution control and promoting electric vehicles

• To combat pollution, it is crucial to regulate Pollution Under Control (PUC) Centers by implementing regular mandatory inspections.
• Additionally, promoting the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) through subsidies can be effective.
• One important step is to make all new bus procurements consist of E-Buses, which are environmentally friendly.

Installation of air purifiers

• One approach is to consider the installation of air purifiers, following a model similar to that used in China.
• The government could place numerous air purification machines, such as 'Wayu,' around the national capital's boundaries.
• This initiative could help improve the quality of the air and mitigate pollution levels.

The government should also prioritise mechanised sweeping throughout the state. In cases of significant dust pollution, artificial rain could be induced as a measure to alleviate the problem.

These steps can help in controlling and managing pollution levels effectively.