Delhi's pollution crisis: A serious challenge arising from human along with Geographical factors

The city that always attracts the attention of the entire country is currently grappling with a serious issue. This problem is not only this time but every year it seriously affects the city in winter. Even breathing becomes extremely difficult. We are talking about the national capital Delhi. The situation in Delhi, gripped by severe pollution, has now become extremely challenging for living a normal life. As soon as winter arrives, Delhi’s air becomes poisonous. The Air Quality Index (AQI) goes over 400. But why is there so much pollution in Delhi?

Vehicles running on the roads of the national capital are being held most responsible for the increasing pollution levels in Delhi. A new study has revealed that vehicle emissions are the biggest contributor to the pollutants affecting Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) during the winter months. The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has supported its study with data. The data shows that more than half of the pollutants spread from local sources are from vehicles.

Many studies have already been done on Delhi's pollution. In many researches, stubble burning has been presented as its main cause. Similarly, firecrackers burnt during festivals like Diwali also contribute to increasing pollution. But apart from all this, are there any geographical reasons in the case of Delhi's pollution? Is the geographical location of Delhi also causing pollution? These are all questions worth considering.

Five reasons for pollution in Delhi

1. Burning stubble

Every year as soon as the cold season starts in Punjab and Haryana, the remaining parts of the previous crops are burnt. This is called stubble burning. This time the monsoon has gone late, so the cleaning of the previous crop and preparation of the next crop has also started late. Therefore, the matter of burning stubble in the fields in these states also started late. That is, it will continue for a long time.

2. Wind direction

The wind also has a big role in poisoning Delhi's air. That is the direction of the wind. Wind direction, speed and humidity, are the three factors that fill the lungs of Delhi-NCR with poison. After monsoon and before winter, the wind blows from Haryana-Punjab towards Delhi. This wind comes from Pakistan. In which the amount of dust particles is greater. With this wind, the poisonous smoke coming out of burning stubble also comes. Since there is moisture in the air just after the monsoon leaves. It is heavy, smog is seen low all around. If the direction of the wind changes, the situation can improve.

3. Change in temperature

The continuous change in temperature in Delhi's winters also increases pollution. This is called Temperature Inversion. Due to this, a layer of hot air is formed above the cold air. Due to this, all the polluting elements stop on the surface. The reason for the temperature change can be anything like pollution from vehicles, industries, burning of stubble.

4. Pollution from vehicles

The population of Delhi is more than the area of the city. Along with this, the number of vehicles is also very high. 25% of PM2.5 emissions in Delhi are due to pollution from vehicles. Every day, around 11 lakhs private or commercial vehicles ply on the roads in Delhi. The gases and chemicals emitted from the industries in and around Delhi also cause changes in the atmosphere. Pollution increases.

5. Other sources of pollution

Sand particles along with dry air come from dry areas. Chemicals and emissions from firecrackers during Diwali, and the burning of domestic biomass also increase pollution in winter. According to a study by IIT Kanpur, 17-26% of PM emissions in Delhi-NCR are caused by the burning of biomass. Due to all these, pollution in Delhi has increased to a lethal level. From the clear sky of summer to the foggy sky of winter, the air of Delhi keeps deteriorating.

Pollution in some other big cities in India

Apart from the national capital Delhi, there are many other densely populated cities in the country. We can talk about Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru etc. There is a lot of vehicular traffic in these cities too, and there is also pollution, but the situation in these cities is not as terrible as in Delhi.

First of all, know what is the difference between the average AQI in the four big cities. That is the figure between the cleanest air and the dirtiest air.

Mumbai- 154

Bengaluru- 104

Chennai- 200

Kolkata- 220

Now know the situation in Delhi- the average AQI is around 300 to 400. The pollution level in Delhi is double or more than any station in any of the four metro cities. What are the reasons for this?

If we talk about Mumbai, then this is a coastal area. The coolness of the sea helps in cleaning the polluting elements. There is less industrial activity. There are fewer factories. Benefit from green covers like Sanjay Gandhi National Park and other green areas. Due to the sea, the temperature remains average. That is moderate temperature and humidity.

Bangalore is famous as the Garden City. Lots of greenery. Parks. The land of the city is generally at a higher altitude. This prevents pollutants from settling. It is an IT hub but there are fewer polluting factories. Waste management is better. The climate is excellent. The temperature remains moderate. The humidity remains moderate.

Chennai is also a coastal area like Mumbai. Due to the coolness of the sea, pollutants dissolve less in the air. Strong winds blow. Therefore, pollution does not persist. Industrial areas are developed in the areas outside the city. Therefore, pollution is less in the city. It is a historical commercial center. There are fewer industries. Waste management is good.

In Kolkata, all the dirt and polluting elements here are washed away in the monsoon. On top of that, a large area of the river Ganga. Contact with the sea. The river reduces pollution. There are parks. There are gardens. There are wetlands. Industrial activity is less.

But in the case of Delhi, this is a landlocked area. That is, there is land all around. Neither a proper river nor a sea. This traps pollution. Population density is very high, construction is going on continuously all around Delhi, urbanization is happening at a rapid pace, and Vehicle pollution is high. The stubble is burnt in nearby areas, and temperature changes, are all the factors behind Delhi's pollution.

The rising pollution crisis in Delhi has become a serious challenge not only for health but also for the overall quality of life in the city. The confluence of many factors of pollution in winter, such as vehicular emissions, stubble burning, and the effect of geographical conditions, further worsens the situation. The pollution level in Delhi is very high compared to other metro cities, and its solution can only be possible through public awareness, effective policies, and long-term measures. We need to make efforts at all levels so that the national capital gets a clean and healthy environment.