– by Ar. Akshay Kumar Garg
We all know that after Agriculture the biggest manpower-oriented industry is the Construction Industry.
With the invocation of GRAP – 1, 2, 3 or 4 (Graded Response Action Plan) in NCR the rhythm of construction industry gets affected severely.
This not only affects the daily wadges labours, but also the plant and machinery which most of the time is on rental basis. Thus, every disruption of Construction activities leads to cost over runs due to demobilisation and remobilisation activities of both i.e., manpower as well as Plant and machinery. So effectively the duration of construction gets reduced to 8 to 9 months only, which is also due to various big festivals during the year and the movement of labour to home town due to harvesting season etc.
Now why this happens? If one notices, every year post October i.e. between November to January due to the spike in pollution levels post monsoon in the region, the Construction activities get the blame for pollution in the NCR apart from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.
However, as per the data available, (as indicated in one of the writeups by UDBARU foundation) “Delhi’s pollution has often been framed in terms of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, particularly because satellite images and smog episodes during October–November are visually dramatic. But the deeper understanding that has emerged from IIT Kanpur, TERI, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and other independent agencies paints a more precise picture.”
The main source of Delhi’s everyday pollution is local emissions. Together with vehicles, re-suspended road dust, construction dust, waste burning, diesel generators, and emissions from nearby industrial clusters, the city’s PM2.5 and PM10 load is high. Winds in Punjab and Haryana bring particulate matter from agricultural residue burning in October and November, causing sharp temporary spikes. But over the course of the winter, Delhi’s PM2.5 load’s share of stubble burning is typically much lower than the cumulative contribution of local sources.
According to another recent study of PM10 load in NCR districts, road dust alone contributed 42% of PM10, with transport (vehicles) contributing another 25%, and ongoing construction adding an additional 15%.
However, as per geographical studies, Delhi is situated within the Indo-Gangetic Plain, an expansive flat region that spans northern India. It is flanked by the Himalayas, the Peninsular Plateau, the Aravalli Hills, and the Brahmaputra Valley. Due to its low and bowl-like terrain, air circulation is restricted. Consequently, contaminated air remains close to the surface, particularly during the colder months when winds are gentle. Furthermore, Delhi is encircled by natural barriers on two sides. The imposing Himalayas to the north hinder the flow of cold, clean air. Meanwhile, the Aravalli Hills to the southwest obstruct any wind movement. As a result, the polluted air cannot disperse and has no means of escape. This obstruction of airflow renders Delhi and the surrounding areas some of the most polluted regions in the world.
The October and November temperature inversion is another significant factor. Normally, warm air near the ground rises and carries pollutants upward. But during inversion, the air above becomes warmer than the air below acting like a lid covering the whole capital. This “lid” traps pollutants below, reducing the vertical mixing height. Because of this, smog accumulates rapidly at this time of year after sunset.
Delhi’s air pollution issue is both man-made and a result of the city’s geographical location. Every winter, Delhi turns into a natural pollution trap due to its basin-shaped plain, surrounding hills, slow winds, and temperature inversion.
So then, what is the solution to this problem?
The best solutions to this problem, in my opinion, are as follows:
- Completion of road side pavements along the highways and Delhi’s major and sub-major roads.
- Expanding urban green spaces with native plant species, restoring wetlands, and establishing green corridors for air ventilation are all examples of terrain-sensitive urban planning that can help control temperature and trap pollutants.
- Better ways of mechanised sprinkling of water on major and sub-major roads.
- Car-pooling for office goers.
- Creating artificial rain through cloud seeding is possible.
- Stopping of waste burning or tyre burning by locals and stricter fines be imposed.
Today ISRO is doing fantastic job on projecting indigenous Satellites into space! Can these be used to monitor the waste burning and imposing fines on the culprit.
Secondly, I believe that as a region we cannot change the geographical position of Delhi but improve the public transport system. The dilapidated pavements along the roads to curb the dust. The government at the centre as well as the state level should prioritise the mass transport system of Delhi-NCR as a Double Engine Government.
I feel if the air quality of Delhi is not taken seriously, the future generation of Delhi-NCR region will be more like respiratory patients rather than contributing to the growth of India!
Therefore, the Government cannot be reactive to the situation, and rather, they need to be more vigilant on same.