Delhi looks for solutions to annual air quality problems

As winter arrives in India, air quality inevitably deteriorates and in recent days attention has turned to ways of reducing the impact of this annual health hazard.

enforcement
On Saturday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced that it was sending 26 teams of inspectors to areas in which stubble burning is traditionally practiced. 

The CAQM has also empowered local authorities in these areas to prosecute officials for failing to enforce regulations around stubble burning. 

A CAQM  statement, published in Saturday said: ‘Based on the field experience and learnings during 2021,2022 and 2023, the action plans for Punjab, Haryana and U.P. (NCR Districts) focusing prevention and control of paddy stubble burning during the paddy harvest season were updated for 2024 which targeted elimination of this unsustainable agricultural practice.

‘However, a total of 267 and 187 paddy residue burning events were reported during the period from 15th September – 9th October, 2024, from the States of Punjab and Haryana respectively.’

This comes after The Supreme Court criticised the CAQM for failing to bring a single prosecution in regards to stubble burning.

fireworks
Yesterday, a day after Dussehra celebrations, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee issued a temporary ban on fireworks.

Posting on X, Gopal Rai, Minister Environment, Development, General Administration said:  ‘In view of the increasing pollution in winter, a ban has been imposed on the production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers from today till January 1. Delhi government issued instructions regarding the ban. Request for cooperation from all Delhiites.’ 

The ban – which will prevent fireworks being used during Diwali later this month – will be enforced by the Delhi police, with the promise that strict action will be taken against anyone violating the order.

cloud seeding
The aforementioned Gopal Rai has also been calling on the authorities to consider cloud seeding ‘as an emergency measure.’

The process involves releasing chemicals into clouds to encourage condensation to form as rain and was trialed in India last year. The Delhi government has considered cloud seeding in the past but have seemingly been discouraged by the cost and the fact that particular conditions need to be in place for the process to be effective.