The winter season has drawn to a close, but it has left alarm bells clanging. A new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), of winter air pollution trends in Delhi-NCR, says that while there had been a minor drop in the seasonal level compared to previous winters, the level is still extremely high, and far from meeting the safety standards. CSE researchers warn that if not acted upon immediately, this trend can worsen in the coming years negating the downward dip of the pandemic years.
This analysis of real-time data from monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR for the entire winter period (October 1, 2021-February 28, 2022) shows that despite heavy and prolonged rains in different phases this winter, long smog episodes and elevated levels have prevailed.
The region recorded a few days of satisfactory air quality in January which has not happened in the previous three seasons — this was due to unprecedented heavy rainfall and the lockdown imposed on the city to control the Omicron-wave of the pandemic in January.
“Elevated pollution levels and smog episodes are an evidence of the systemic pollution that has continued in the region due to inadequate infrastructure and systems for pollution control in all sectors. This can be tamed only if round-the-year action becomes more stringent and uniform across sectors and the region. Action has to be performance based to meet the clean air standards,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE.
Adds Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab Analytics, CSE: “Even though there is considerable variation in seasonal averages across the region, winter pollution episodes are alarmingly high and synchronised in the region despite large distances. This is the challenge of this landlocked region. Despite being the wettest winter, the overall winter average of PM2.5 has stayed elevated and the overall contribution of the local and regional sources are higher than that from stubble-smoke.”
This final analysis of winter pollution in Delhi and NCR has shown that there is a risk of pollution bouncing back with the reopening of the economy and increased traffic intensity post-hard lockdown phases. High winter pollution only indicates the magnitude of local and regional pollution that gets easily trapped when winter conditions turn cool and calm with a deepening of inversion.
Says Roychowdhury: “This requires strong action to introduce clean energy across all sectors, transformation of urban commuting with upscaled public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure and vehicle restraint measures and long distance freight management, and complete recycling of all waste streams through a strong infrastructure for material recovery. This region now requires performance-based action to ensure clean air standards are met in a time-bound manner.”
