For 92 days in 2018, Delhites breathed severely polluted air
New Delhi: The national capital saw alarming levels of air pollution in the winter of 2017-18 and even in the summer months of the gone year. In 2018 Delhi had 5 good pollution days, 66 moderate, 145 poor, 57 very poor and 92 severe days. Most importantly, majority of the people in Delhi is not happy with the air quality and as compared to the last year, the air quality hasn't improved much.
Since pollution levels in Delhi have persistently crossed severe levels for the last 3 winters, United Residents Joint Action (URJA), the apex body of Delhi's rwas, filed 45 rtis to Central, State and Municipal bodies responsible for overseeing the implementation of GRAP and analyse its effectiveness. The study also includes a public perception survey across 10 locations in Delhi near CPCB monitoring areas like ITO, Patparganj, Siri Fort, Bawana, Lodhi Road, RK Puram, Ashok Vihar, Anand Vihar and Rohini.
The study reveals that while industrial activity and compliance within Delhi city borders is controlled, the number of industries functioning without pollution control norms in states like Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, point towards the problem of industrial pollution afflicting the entire region.
The survey questionnaire was administered across the wards covered in a 2 km radius around the identified 10 locations in Delhi where CPCB monitors have been installed :
a. Anand Vihar b. Ashok Vihar c. Dwarka d. ITO e. Lodhi Road f. Patparganj g. Rohini h. R K Puram i. Siri Fort j. Bawana
Here are the highlights of the report:
Unawareness continues
- 89% of the respondents are not aware about the Air Pollution Monitors installed in their area.
- 88% of the total respondents have not seen any led screens showing the air quality as severe/good/bad in different colours in different parts of delhi. 93% of the respondents do not understand the meaning of air quality index (aqi) and do now know when it is termed as bad, good, severe or very poor.
- 43% respondents have shared that it is little better but 30% respondents have shared that it is little worse than the last year. only 7% think that it is the same as last year, 9% think it is much worse and 10% think it is much better.
- 93% of the total respondents are not aware about the health advisories issued by govt. In public interests in winter. 53% of the respondents are aware of the Odd-Even scheme for private vehicles in Delhi, 37% respondents are unaware.
Pollution affects lives
- 58% respondents have shared that the air pollution affects them and 42% are unaffected. Among the respondents who have expressed about getting affected by the air pollution, 28% have shared that they get affected very much, 42% have shared that they only get affected a little and 8% have shared about the effect to be insignificant.
-
28% of the respondents face difficulty in breathing due to the poor quality of air, 20% needs to take greater care of their skin, 17% needs more effort to stay healthy, 16% feels depressed, 9% needs to avoid outdoor activities and 10% finds other effects in their lives.
Children falling ill
50% of the respondents have shared that air quality affects children's respiratory health seriously and 27% thinks that it affects to a certain extent. 50% respondents have observed that there is a positive correlation between children's illnesses and poor air quality in delhi. 89% of the respondents are not aware about the air pollution monitors installed in their area.
Major sources of pollution
- 32% of the respondents have shared that the one of the main sources of air pollution is construction. 29% have shared that it is the Air Conditioners and Motor Vehicles which are contributing the most to the air pollution in Delhi.
- 40% of the respondents have shared that it could be power plants, waste disposal, population growth, industrial sources/manufacturing facilities burning of waste or household cooking and heating.
Diesel generators are still the culprits
Diesel
generators
to
be
banned
in
Delhi
as
air
pollution
level
has
reached
the
‘Very
Poor'
level
as
the
presence
of
PM2.5
or
PM10
concentration
in
air
is
between
121-250µg/m3
or
351-430
µg/m3
respectively.
The
other
measures
listed
to
be
adopted
when
the
air
quality
level
dips
to
the
‘Very
Poor'
level
are
:
Enhancement
of
parking
fee
by
3-4
times.
⎯
Increase
of
bus
and
metro
services
by
augmenting
contract
buses
and
increasing
frequency
of
service.
⎯
Stop
use
of
coal
or
firewood
in
hotels
and
open
eateries.
⎯
Resident
welfare
associations
and
individual
house
owners
to
provide
electric
heaters
during
winter
to
security
staff
to
avoid
open
burning
by
them.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) are the agencies responsible for keeping tabs on air quality.
What MCD says in RTI
NDMC carried out inspections and impose environmental compensations charges to polluting construction sites in North and South Delhi. Plantation of 34,510 in north 30,000 in south number of plants had been accomplished during this period.
Water sprinkling on road site in the jurisdiction of horticulture department NDMC. 10 nos mechanical sweepers has been deployed for sweeping of roads in North Delhi.
1119 in north and 156 in south garbage burning challans has been issued in order to stop waste burning. Conducted awareness campaign for garbage / municipal solid waste burning.
Out of 21 questions on the action undertaken to control air pollution during Oct.2017 to March 2018. EDMC replied for 9 questions and rest question remained unanswered/not related to department.