AIR POLLUTION
Pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate the natural surroundings; which brings about
changes that affect our normal lifestyles adversely. Pollutants are the key elements or
components of pollution which are generally waste materials of different forms. Pollution
disturbs our ecosystem and the balance in the environment. With modernization and
development in our lives pollution has reached its peak; giving rise to global warming and
human illness.
Pollution occurs in different forms; air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, heat/ thermal and light.
Every form of pollution has two sources of occurrence; the point and the non-point sources.
The point sources are easy to identify, monitor and control, whereas the non-point sources
are hard to control.
Air Pollution is the most prominent and dangerous form of pollution. It occurs due to many
reasons. Excessive burning of fuel which is a necessity of our daily lives for cooking, driving
and other industrial activities; releases a huge amount of chemical substances in the air
everyday; these pollute the air.
Smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles or burning of wood basically occurs due to coal
burning; this releases sulphur dioxide into the air making it toxic. The effects of air pollution
are evident too. Release of sulphur dioxide and hazardous gases into the air causes global
warming and acid rain; which in turn have increased temperatures, erratic rains and droughts
worldwide; making it tough for the animals to survive. We breathe in every polluted particle
from the air; result is increase in asthma and cancer in the lungs.
Today, air pollution has emerged as a global public health problem and is identified as a major
environmental health hazard by agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and
governments around the world. An increase in concentration of pollutants - both gaseous and
solid - is among the largest health risk in the world and according to the latest data released
by WHO, indoor and outdoor air pollution were responsible for 3.7 million deaths of people
aged under 60 in 2012.
In recent years, air pollution has acquired critical dimensions and the air quality in most
Indian cities that monitor outdoor air pollution fail to meet WHO guidelines for safe levels.
The levels of PM 2.5 and PM10 as well as concentration of dangerous carcinogenic substances
such as Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) have reached alarming proportions
in most Indian cities, putting people at additional risk of respiratory diseases and other health
problems. Furthermore, the issue of indoor air pollution has put women and children at high
risk.
A recent study by Yale and Columbia University ranked India 126th out of 132 countries
surveyed on environmental performance and worst for air pollution; far below all BRICS
nations i.e. Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.
According to a WHO report from 2014, Delhi had the dirtiest atmosphere of 1,600 cities
around the world. 13 Indian cities feature in the 20 cities with the highest level of PM 2.5;
Delhi having a PM2.5 level of 153, six times higher than the WHO safe limit of 25.
Major Causes of Air Pollution in India
As of Jan 2015, coal-powered thermal power plants account for 60.72% of India’s total
power generation, according to data available from Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Coal plants happen to be one of the leading sources of SO2 and NO2.
As per Census 2011, 87% of rural households and 26% of urban households depend on
biomass for cooking. Burning of biomass is a leading cause of indoor air pollution and
is responsible for respiratory and pulmonary health issues in approximately 400
million Indians.
Growing number of cars in Indian cities - Private & commercial vehicles account for
66.28% of the total consumption of diesel*. Low standards for vehicle emissions & fuel
have resulted in increased levels of Nitrogen Oxides & Sulphur.
The proportion of rural households using kerosene as a primary source of energy for
lighting is almost 30%. Kerosene lanterns used in rural areas are a primary source of
emission of black carbon soot and cause significant health impact, particularly in the
case of women and children.
Impact of Air Pollution in India
Air pollution, both indoor (household) and outdoor, has had a significant impact on the health
of citizens as well as the economy. The adverse effects of air pollution are not just restricted
to the urban areas but also impact rural areas, where a majority of the population relies on
kerosene and burning of biomass for lighting and cooking purposes respectively.
Air pollution is among the leading causes of death in India
The Global Burden of Disease Report has ranked outdoor air pollution as the fifth leading
cause of death in India and indoor air pollution as the third leading cause. Outdoor air
pollution was responsible for 6,20,000 deaths in 2010, increasing six-fold from 1,00,000
deaths in 2000. Moreover, a research study by researchers at the University of Chicago,
Harvard and Yale estimated that high Particulate Matter (PM) concentration is responsible for
reducing the life expectancy by 3.2 years for 660 million Indians living in urban
conglomerates.
Negative impact on agricultural productivity
A recent research study “Recent climate and air pollution impacts on Indian agriculture” by
scientists at the University of California, San Diego suggests the adverse impact of air
pollution caused by Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) on agricultural productivity. They
observed that the yield of wheat in 2010 has reduced by almost 36% and that of rice by 20%
when compared to figures from 1980, negating for climate change. SLCPs such as ozone and
black carbon are released into the atmosphere by motor vehicle exhausts and rural cook
stoves respectively. These SLCPs remain in the atmosphere for short periods.
Cost of Air pollution amounts to 3% of the GDP
A World Bank report titled ‘Diagnostic Assessment of Select Environmental Challenges in
India” highlighted that the annual cost of air pollution, specifically pollution from particulate
matter (burning of fossil fuels) amounts to 3% of the GDP of the country; outdoor air
pollution accounting for 1.7% and indoor air pollution for 1.3%. The report also observed that
a 30% reduction in particulate emissions by 2030 would save India $105 billion in health-
related costs; a 10% reduction would save $24 billion.
In light of the adverse impacts, coupled with the fact that the concentration of particulate
matter in 180 Indian cities is almost six times higher than the standards set by the WHO, the
issue of quality of air has become a major concern for the government of India.
Summary of key Government Initiatives & Policy Measures to tackle
the issue
Amid growing concerns pertaining to rising air pollution, government of India has taken
various initiatives as well as introduced policies to address the issue. In order to prevent and
control air pollution, the Parliament of India enacted the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981 on 29th March 1981, which came into force on the 15th May of the same
year. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a statutory organization under the Ministry
of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring
ambient air quality and has been conferred and assigned the power and functions to achieve
the stipulated objective. Thereby, the CPCB in association with various State Pollution Control
Boards (SPCBs) monitors the ambient air quality according to the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) with the help of 580 manual stations established in 244 cities,
towns and industrial areas.
Moreover, a total of 42 questions on air pollution, its impact and efforts to check emissions
and air pollution have been raised in the last 3 sessions of Parliament (24 in Lok Sabha & 18 in
Rajya Sabha), which suggests increasing concern among Members of Parliament on the said
issue. This section covers the significant government initiatives and policy measures over the
past few years that are aimed at curbing both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Promotion of cleaner technologies and alternate sources of energy to run vehicles
National Mission for Electricity Mobility (NMEM) is aimed at enhancing penetration of
efficient and environmentally friendly hybrid and electric vehicles; GoI earmarked
1,000 crores for the Plan in 2015 with an eye to decrease CO2 emissions by 1.2- 1.5% in
2020
Promotion of the cultivation, production and use of biofuels to substitute petrol and
diesel in automobiles. Indicative target of 20% blending of bio-fuels such as bio-diesel
and bio-ethanol by 2017 is proposed; Ethanol run bus launched in Nagpur under
‘Green Bus’ Project.
Air Pollution is a complicated issue and negatively impacts the health of citizens as well as the
economy of the country. Both indoor and outdoor air pollution have emerged as one of the
leading causes of deaths in India and while recent reports highlight the worsening outdoor air
pollution in urban centres, indoor air pollution due to biomass burning and inefficient
‘chulhas’ is also an area of concern. The Government of India and the state governments have
recognized the adverse effect of air pollution and there is increased seriousness about
addressing the air quality issue among all the stakeholders. Furthermore, recent efforts such
as the launch of National Air Quality Index point to the need for enhancing public awareness
on the quality of air they are breathing. A shift towards renewable energy is part of the plan
to reduce dependency on fossil fuels as well as provide clean energy to households, which are
currently using kerosene for lighting purposes. It is important that a comprehensive,
integrated and long-term plan of action, involving coordination between different ministries
and departments, is drawn to address the issue, reduce air pollution and ensure that citizens
breathe clean air.
