| INDIA LEGAL |July 22, 2019 37pollution, but progress has been slow.
In 2014, the World Health
Organisation (WHO) slapped on Delhi
the dubious distinction of being the
most polluted city in the world. That
year, Delhi remained in the “severely
polluted” category. The Capital accounts
for about 80 deaths daily due to air pol-
lution. In 2018, Delhi had a total of only
five days when its air was categorised as
“good quality”; nearly a quarter of the
year (92 days) saw “severe” air quality,
145 days were “poor”, 57 days “very
poor”, while on 66 days the air quality
was classified as “moderate”.
WHO data shows that in 2018, air
pollution killed an average 8.5 out of
10,000 children before they turned even
five. This makes outdoor pollution the
fifth largest killer. According to the
study “Addressing Global Mortality from
Ambient PM 2.5”, published in 2015, 45
percent of the premature deaths in
Delhi could have been stalled with prop-
er preventive measures.
Air pollution is also known to cause
birth defects and fatalities during preg-
nancies, damage to the cardiovascular
system of unborn babies, childhood dep -
ression and anxiety, apart from respira-
tory diseases, heart conditions and
heightened risk of heart stroke.
The recent trends are proof that poor
air quality is not a winter phenomenon
anymore and that summers are equally
grim. The summer of 2019 has been
particularly harsh with air dipping into
the “severe” category and “very poor”
category due to westerly winds, stubble
burning in neighbouring states and for-
est fires in Uttarakhand. Alarmingly, a
recent analysis released by CSE revealed
the rise of another pollutant in Delhi-
NCR: ozone. It has been the dominant
pollutant in the area, being higher than
the prescribed standard in 16 percent of
the days this summer, up from only five
percent last year. The analysis was based
on the data that the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) publishes daily.A
numita Roychowdhury, executive
director, research and advocacy,
at CSE, sees this as a worrying
trend. “Ozone is not directly emitted
from any source. Other gases emitted
through vehicles and industries react in
high temperatures to create ozone,” shesays. The intense heat wave spiked the
amount of ozone this summer. Ozone is
known to heighten the severity of respi-
ratory issues. “Given the situation, it is
important to control emissions from
vehicles and industries aggressively,”
she added.
According to Bhure Lal, chairperson,
EPCA, combatting air pollution requires
long-term and drastic measures. The
long-term action plans include control-
ling vehicular pollution by promoting
electrical vehicles and public transport
and controlling trucks and commercial
vehicles from entering Delhi and imple-
menting the Environmental Compens -
ation Charge. Other measures such as
registering only Bharat VI vehicles by
April 2020, phasing out older vehicles,
managing construction and demolition
waste have been outlined in the detailed
plan submitted by the EPCA to the
Supreme Court. However, implementa-
tion of these measures has been lax and
multiple deadlines have been flouted by
the authorities even as the severity of air
pollution continues to rise.
In November 2018, Lal had urged Dr
Prashant Gargava, Member Secretary,
CPCB and Chair of GRAP Task Force, to
consider the ban on all private vehicles
barring only those running on CNG.
However, given the state of public trans-
port, this plea was turned town.
On June 18, 2019, NitiAyog moved a
cabinet note proposing a complete tran-
sition to electric vehicles by 2030. But
Nitin Gadkari, Union minister of road
transportation and highways, said that
the phasing out of diesel and petrol
vehicles will be decided only after dis-
cussion with the automobile industry.
With air quality, particularly in
Delhi, in the “poor” category much of
the year, the time for talks may be run-
ning out and action is needed. As
Roychowdhury says: “We need to act
now and arrest the problem now, else it
will grow into a health emergency.”Twitter: @indialegalmedia
Website: http://www.indialegallive.com
Contact: [email protected]CLEARING THE AIR
From July 10, 2019, no commercial vehicle
without RFIDs will be allowed to enter Delhi;
(facing page) a grey haze over a busy road
A recent analysis released by CSE
revealed the rise of ozone in Delhi air.
It has been the dominant pollutant in
the area, being higher than the
prescribed standard this summer.youtube.com