Shutting down schools is no way to fight Delhi's life-threatening pollution
So the government has shut down schools for a few days in the National Capital Region (NCR). This is to counter the hazardous levels of air pollution engulfing the region.
This is mainly due to the absence of a local wind system, high levels of humidity - mainly over the plains of western Uttar Pradesh and the smoke drifting in from northern states due to the burning of post-harvest stubble. The high amount of vehicular pollution and dust emanating from construction activities in the region only add to the polluted air.
The question is what will shutting down of schools achieve? The ambient air quality inside homes is sometimes worse than the air quality outside, because pollutants get trapped and cannot disperse properly within the confines of a house.
The National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court have time and again suggested measures to stop Delhi air from going bad, or as bad as we are faced with every winter since the last four years. Nothing seems to have changed. The air quality index post Diwali was better this year than in 2016 but even that marginal good was a "very poor" on the AQI scales - reaching over 300 at most places.
The fact remains that improving Delhi's air will need a long-term approach with plans in place and an empowered monitoring agency to look after it. The practice of crop residue burning would continue till farmers are offered an alternative. Almost nothing can be done about the wind system so the issue needs to be tackled locally. Punitive fines along with alternatives must be on offer to stop farmers from burning the stubbles in their fields. A very common sight in Delhi is the burning of leaves and waste gathered by various municipal bodies. This is a big source of pollution that needs to be tackled.
The odd-even scheme has not worked for Delhi. It was not a failure for the state government, mainly because Delhi sees an influx of 3 lakh cars daily from neighbouring states - so simply restricting vehicles registered in Delhi will not solve the problem. Secondly, almost 1,500 four-wheelers get added to the city's roads daily. It nullifies the gains of the odd-even scheme.
Augmentation of public transport has not happened. Delhi has some 5,608 buses on the road though in 1998 the Supreme Court had directed at least 10,000 buses by 2000. Back in 2015, the Delhi government promised to induct 10,000 buses, but by September 2017 the procurement of only about 2,000 was approved.
The municipal corporations claimed that they are trying to book those violating construction norms related to controlling pollution. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation officials reportedly issued over 1,200 challans to construction sites found flouting dust pollution norms. SDMC has issued over 1,500 challans, while EDMC claims to have taken action against nearly 2,500 violators. The three civic bodies are in the process to procure vacuum machines for cleaning roads. SDMC reportedly procured six mechanical sweepers called Jatayu, besides one power sweeping machine, some suction machines and one mini jetting machine. The procurement has been delayed in two other corporations due to the financial crunch they are facing. Even a layman will tell you that for an area as vast as Delhi these numbers are next to nothing.
Installing air purifiers in homes are a solution not everyone can afford and frankly the government is left with very limited resources to counter air pollution in an ever-growing mega polis. One study reportedly put the lung health of teenagers in NCR at over 40 - basically our children have the lungs of chain-smokers. How many years this air is taking off their lives is anybody's guess.
On a sadder note, the apex court's cracker ban was bathed in lights of communal colours. Maybe it is time to put politics aside and address the air pollution issue seriously. There was a report that suggested that helicopters would spray water to control atmospheric pollution - drastic measure - but probably the only thing the government can do to help our children and us breath freely. If such a proposal exists it must be implemented without delay.