Opinion: These are 8 great mantras to keep the air clean, one for you too; Consider the cure for air pollution

Author: Chandra Bhushan
Noted environmentalist Chandra Bhushan has expressed concern over the serious issue of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, but has also given an eight-point roadmap for significant improvement in air quality in the next five years. In an article written for our associate newspaper The Times of India (TOI), he/she has questioned the thinking behind measures like Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). he/she has said that when pollution reaches dangerous levels, such measures are whitewashed and do not have any significant impact. he/she said that waste management, ban on open burning, enforcement of pollution laws, management of traffic and construction of roads and Activities like suppressing dust at sites should be a regular practice. They highlight the root causes of air pollution – extensive use of biomass and coal, dust from land degradation, etc. – and emphasize the need for a regional action plan to deal with them. he/she has given these eight very effective strategies which can be adopted to protect us from the danger of air pollution…

1. Modi government brought PM Ujjwala 3.0

Citing his/her previous study, the author says that in the last decade, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has resulted in greater reduction in air pollution than any other measure. Expanding access to clean cooking fuel in Delhi-NCR could reduce PM2.5 levels by 25%. To achieve this objective, there is a need for 3.0 of PM Ujjwala Yojana in which access to LPG or electricity should be ensured at every home.

Research shows that 75% subsidy is needed to ensure LPG access, especially among low-income households. On this, the government needs to spend about Rs 5 to 6 thousand per family annually. About Rs 6 to 7 thousand crores will be spent every year on this initiative in Delhi-NCR. Many times more than this is spent on the treatment of serious diseases caused by poisonous air. If the government did this, it would be a very pro-poor and pro-women initiative, especially considering that about 6 lakh Indians die prematurely every year due to indoor air pollution, a majority of whom are women.

2. Need for clean thermal fuel

More than 90% of households across India use biomass and solid fuels for heating during winter, contributing to pollution conditions in December and January. One of China’s important air quality initiatives was the National Clean Thermal Fuel Policy. It is necessary to develop a similar long-term plan. In view of this, currently the Delhi government can ensure that only electricity is used for heating in winter and implement a strict ban on open burning. This will rapidly improve the air quality of Delhi.

3. Incentive package and penalty system to stop stubble burning

Curbing stubble burning will reduce the incidence of severe and hazardous air pollution days during winter months. This requires both short and long strategies. In the long term, agriculture in Punjab, Haryana and parts of UP should be transformed from intensive rice-wheat cultivation to diversified cropping systems. In the short term, technology and incentives may play an important role.

The simplest technological solution is to modify or mandate combine harvesters that cut close to the ground like manual harvesting, leaving minimal stubble. The Haryana government gives an incentive of ₹ 1,000 per acre to farmers to stop stubble burning. Still, if a farmer burns stubble, he/she should be punished along with being deprived of government schemes. This scheme will cost approximately ₹2,500 crore annually.

4. Need for energy transition in industries

Industries and power plants account for about one-third of annual PM2.5 emissions in Delhi-NCR. To reduce these, upgrading in technology and strict enforcement of laws will be required. The scheme to encourage MSMEs to adopt clean fuel sources, especially electric boilers and furnaces, can reduce emissions to a great extent. Large industries are required to strictly enforce stringent pollution norms and rules. It will also be important to close old thermal power plants and implement the 2015 standards, which has not been done so far.

5. Increased focus on electric vehicles

It is important to increase the use of electronic vehicles. Initially the focus should be on transition to two-wheelers and three-wheelers as well as buses as they are already economically viable. The target of 100% electrification of new two-wheeler and three-wheeler sales by 2030 and converting all new buses in Delhi-NCR to electric by 2025 will reduce emissions substantially. Additionally, setting a 30-50% electrification target for cars and other vehicles will help accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

6. Development of green belt is necessary

Dust pollution from Delhi and surrounding areas, along with seasonal dust from the Thar Desert, has a significant impact on air quality. A green belt around Delhi will act as a natural barrier against dust coming from outside. Additionally, it is necessary to increase green cover within the city to control local dust pollution. In this context, the solution of arranging greenery on roadsides and open spaces will be very effective.

7. Responsibilities of municipalities should be fixed

Municipalities have primary responsibility for dealing with local sources of pollution, such as dust from roads and construction, open burning, traffic congestion, and inadequate waste management. But municipalities should be held accountable for not taking effective steps to deal with them throughout the year. It will be important to strengthen the National Clean Air Program to strengthen municipal efforts towards taking concrete measures to ensure clean air.

8. Impossible without citizen participation

Finally, the authors emphasize that government action alone is not enough to tackle air pollution. Citizens also need to actively participate in this fight. They can do this by taking steps like car pooling, using public transport, saving energy and spreading awareness among the people around them.

If these measures are implemented, air pollution can be reduced by 50-60% in the next five years. However, it will not be easy. To do this we need to work together with millions of households, farmers and vehicle owners and hundreds of thousands of industries. There is no magic wand that can clear the air with a pinch. Only systematic change involving all stakeholders will let the residents of Delhi breathe easy.