0.1980
7667766266
x

World Air Quality Report 2018

iasparliament Logo
March 08, 2019

Why in news?

‘IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report’ was recently published by NGO Greenpeace and IQ Air Visual.

What are the highlights? 

  • The report was a compilation of air quality data from public and private monitoring sources.
  • It asserted that 7 of the world’s top 10 cities with the worst air quality in 2018 are in India.
  • 15 of the 20 cities worldwide ranked the worst on air pollution metrics are in India.
  • Gurugram, which borders Delhi, was identified as the city with the worst air quality in the world in 2018.
  • It has an annual average concentration of pollutant PM 2.5 at 135.8 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3).
  • It is however an improvement as compared to 145.6 ug/m3 in 2017 in Gurugram.
  • Gurugram was followed by Ghaziabad at the second position with an annual average concentration of 135.2 ug/m3 in 2018.
  • The position for number four was held by Faridabad, followed by Bhiwadi and Noida.
  • Noida at position six on the list was succeeded by Patna followed by Lucknow with an annual average concentration of 115.7 ug/m3.
  • Delhi continues to be extremely hazardous city to live in, with annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of 113.5 ug/m3.
  • Permissible limits - The National Ambient Air Quality Standards define the permissible limit for the concentration of PM 2.5 at 40 ug/m3.
  • On the other hand, the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines the same at 10 ug/m3.

What do other insights show?

  • The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises commissioned a study recently on the factors of pollution in Delhi.
  • In Delhi, dusty sources such as roads, construction sites and bare soil add about 42% of the coarse particulate matter (PM10) in summer, and 31% in winter.
  • Similarly, PM10 from transport varied between 15% and 18% across seasons.
  • Vehicles contribute 18-23% of PM2.5 which is a more unhealthy particulate that penetrates the lungs.
  • Biomass burning was estimated to make up 15-22% and dusty sources 34% of PM2.5 during summer.
  • These insights provide a road map for action; the Delhi government has done well to decide on inducting 1,000 electric buses.

What are the shortfalls?

  • Despite multiple reports putting air quality standards across India at ‘hazardous’ levels, little or nothing is being done either by the centre or the states.
  • The monitoring of air quality in real time across cities and towns in India is far from adequate or uniform.
  • The National Clean Air Programme was recently launched for 102 cities and towns, including the capital.
  • It talks only of long-term benefits of air pollution mitigation programmes beyond 2024, and not a dramatic reduction in near-term pollution.

What should be done?

  • An annual target for reduction has to be set to make governments accountable.
  • Achieving this requires the political will to reform key sectors such as the transport, biomass and construction.
  • A transition to electric vehicles for all commercial applications, with funding from the Centre’s programme for adoption of EVs should be a priority in cities.
  • Cutting nitrogen and sulphur emissions from industrial processes needs a time-bound programme supervised by the Environment Ministry.
  • It is crucial at this point to ensure that India’s future generations are not confined to cities which double up as gas chambers.

 

Source: Financial Express, The Hindu

Login or Register to Post Comments
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to review.

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

sidetext
Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme
sidetext