Page 12 - Breathing Cleaner Air - Ten Scalable Solutions for Indian Cities
P. 12
Clean Air Mission for India - Ten Solutions 8
Policy Relevant Recommendations
National air quality standards and WHO guidelines 65%) of the air pollution in Delhi, while NCR (National
cannot be achieved in all parts of Delhi by just Capital Region) sources (other than Delhi) contribute
focussing on Delhi’s emissions. Multi-sectoral an additional 25% (13–37%); the remaining 43% (25–
interventions, both inside and outside (over a very 63%) is the background due to sources outside of NCR
large region surrounding Delhi), need to be taken for (Figure 1). Delhi’s annual average PM2.5 levels show
effective control of pollution in the capital city. significant variations both temporally and spatially
across the city. The monitored annual average PM2.5
A regional approach is necessary due to the fast concentrations have varied between 60 mg/m3 to 140 mg/
atmospheric transport of pollutants by winds. The same m3, as measured by different agencies, such as Central
conclusions would essentially apply to all cities in India. Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control
Thus, air pollution control, stringent enough to protect Committee (DPCC), during the last few years. In addition
public health in India, can be done only with a coordinated to this, Indian Ministry of Earth sciences implemented
effort across the national, state, city levels, and across an ambitious project, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and
multiple ministries (transportation, power, industry, rural Weather Forecasting and Research), which is piloted
and urban development, health, agriculture, and others). by GURME (Global Atmospheric Watch Urban Research
Meteorology and Environment) of World Meteorological
A ‘Clean Air Mission’ to enact or coordinate policies Organization (WMO). Even if all emissions from Delhi
related to air pollution is warranted. The mission were to be stopped, the PM levels would still exceed
should focus on developing regional scale plans for air the standards at several locations in the city, mainly due
quality improvement with yearly targets and integrate to higher contributions from outside regions to Delhi’s
efforts across different Indian Ministries. air quality. The share of Delhi’s local emissions is found
to be higher in NOx, EC (elemental carbon), and OC
Normally, it is assumed that local sources contribute (organic carbon).
most to the pollution levels in a city. This study finds that
in house sources in Delhi contribute about 32% (10– % Contribution in U.P.’s PM2.5
100%
80%
Outside Uttar Pradesh,
54%
60%
40%
Uttar Pradesh
20% emisions, 46%
0%
Figure 1 Percentage contribution of different regions to simulated PM2.5 concentrations in Delhi (December 2015) and Uttar
Pradesh (December 2012)
Policy Relevant Recommendations
National air quality standards and WHO guidelines 65%) of the air pollution in Delhi, while NCR (National
cannot be achieved in all parts of Delhi by just Capital Region) sources (other than Delhi) contribute
focussing on Delhi’s emissions. Multi-sectoral an additional 25% (13–37%); the remaining 43% (25–
interventions, both inside and outside (over a very 63%) is the background due to sources outside of NCR
large region surrounding Delhi), need to be taken for (Figure 1). Delhi’s annual average PM2.5 levels show
effective control of pollution in the capital city. significant variations both temporally and spatially
across the city. The monitored annual average PM2.5
A regional approach is necessary due to the fast concentrations have varied between 60 mg/m3 to 140 mg/
atmospheric transport of pollutants by winds. The same m3, as measured by different agencies, such as Central
conclusions would essentially apply to all cities in India. Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control
Thus, air pollution control, stringent enough to protect Committee (DPCC), during the last few years. In addition
public health in India, can be done only with a coordinated to this, Indian Ministry of Earth sciences implemented
effort across the national, state, city levels, and across an ambitious project, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and
multiple ministries (transportation, power, industry, rural Weather Forecasting and Research), which is piloted
and urban development, health, agriculture, and others). by GURME (Global Atmospheric Watch Urban Research
Meteorology and Environment) of World Meteorological
A ‘Clean Air Mission’ to enact or coordinate policies Organization (WMO). Even if all emissions from Delhi
related to air pollution is warranted. The mission were to be stopped, the PM levels would still exceed
should focus on developing regional scale plans for air the standards at several locations in the city, mainly due
quality improvement with yearly targets and integrate to higher contributions from outside regions to Delhi’s
efforts across different Indian Ministries. air quality. The share of Delhi’s local emissions is found
to be higher in NOx, EC (elemental carbon), and OC
Normally, it is assumed that local sources contribute (organic carbon).
most to the pollution levels in a city. This study finds that
in house sources in Delhi contribute about 32% (10– % Contribution in U.P.’s PM2.5
100%
80%
Outside Uttar Pradesh,
54%
60%
40%
Uttar Pradesh
20% emisions, 46%
0%
Figure 1 Percentage contribution of different regions to simulated PM2.5 concentrations in Delhi (December 2015) and Uttar
Pradesh (December 2012)
