Context
The Supreme Court questioned the effectiveness of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in controlling air pollutants as a result of stubble burning in North India.
Background
- Recently the air quality in Delhi slipped into the ‘negative’ category, signaling the imminent arrival of North India’s terrible air season.
- The Supreme court criticized the CAQM for non-compliance with its mandate, saying the commission has tremendous powers, which include last down polluting industries, but hasn’t fully used them.
- Also no specific committee was formed to deal with stubble burning, which is a main motive of pollutants.
Reason for higher pollutants level in winters
- Seasonal Impact: As the monsoon ends, weather conditions like temperature inversion (in which heat air traps cooler air near the surface) prevent pollutants from dispersing, inflicting dangerous pollution levels.
- Sources of Pollution: Pollution in Delhi comes from many resources, along with:
- Biomass burning for cooking in rural regions.
- Trash burning and vehicular emissions in cities.
- Industrial pollutants.
- Stubble burning in nearby states like Haryana and Punjab.
- Firecrackers in the course of fairs like Diwali.
Concerns with the existing solutions
- Smog Towers: These structures reduce pollution best in a small area and require electricity, which might cause more emissions.
- Water Guns: These have limited effect on general air quality.
- Odd-Even Road Sharing: While it reduces visitors briefly, the long-term effect is minimum.
- Cloud Seeding: This approach uses chemical substances, along with silver iodide, to create artificial rain, however it may have environmental risks.
- Water vapor that could naturally fall elsewhere is controlled, which may motivate droughts in other regions.
- Additionally, chemicals used can gather in soil and water, potentially harming ecosystems.
Way Ahead
- Better Coordination: Agencies liable for transportation, industry, agriculture, and concrete planning need to work together.
- The hassle of stubble burning requires cooperation among farmers, policymakers, and regulators across state borders.
- Capacity Building: Policymakers, researchers, regulators, and industries should collaborate and seriously compare solutions which are sincerely within the public hobby.
- Comprehensive Air Quality Monitoring: While cities like Delhi get most of the attention, pollution is also a serious problem in rural and industrial areas. Air quality monitoring should cover all regions.
- Address root purpose: Solutions like cloud seeding and smog towers serve as superficial moves. Real solutions need to cope with the foundation reasons of pollution instead of offering a short remedy.
Conclusion
- The scale of the hassle demands long-term solutions, but the response has frequently been characterized by quick-term, optics-pushed measures.
- India wishes a multi-decadal, multi-sectoral effort grounded in scientific thinking and committed to sustained, collaborative action.
Source: PIB