Most elsewhere will not understand why we in Delhi/NCR now celebrate on days when the air quality is certified as “Very Poor”. Like much else in life, joy is based on comparisons: the Air Quality Index (AQI) at this level is better than “Severe” and “Very Severe”, two even worse categories which have been frequent enough to cause widespread alarm. Yet, every breath you take is poison: data shows that the carbon monoxide level is 70 times higher than the safe limit (Gurgaon, November 8; CPCB data). Doctors and hospitals report big increases in cases related to respiratory problems. Not only are millions personally affected, but industry suffers losses due to health-related absenteeism and healthcare costs.
In keeping with the yearly routine, Delhi is witnessing all the usual responses: expressions of dismay, promises of strong action, bans on various activities, and buck-passing supplemented by political blame games. Schools are being closed; another yearly routine that may as well be built into the future academic calendar as a “pollution break”, rather than positioning it as a winter break.
A whole host of other measures are also now standard procedures: water spraying and sweeping of streets, threats of strict enforcement followed by challans for violators of restrictions and bans, encouraging work-from-home, greater frequency of metro trains, etc. What impact these have is a matter of continuing dispute, as is the relative importance of each source of pollution. For example, the contribution of stubble burning to NCR’s pollution levels is a matter of on-going contention, driven more by political considerations rather than convincing research or hard data. Rigorous research on the benefits of the “odd-even rule” for cars seems scarce, as are studies on the contribution of two-wheelers.
Meanwhile, everyone ‒ from courts, to governments in the states and Centre, to pollution control agencies and green tribunals – is in the fray, making rules and enforcing bans. Knee-jerk and hare-brained schemes are suggested, like the proposal (as per media reports) to ban taxies from entering Delhi. In fact, they are minimum polluters, since existing laws require them to run on clean fuel (CNG) or batteries. Banning them means their replacement by private cars running on petrol or diesel, resulting in increased pollution. The ban on construction certainly abates dust pollution, but also causes collateral damage: daily-wage labourers lose their only source of income, forcing them – mostly migrants – to go back home. Re-mobilising these workers when the ban is lifted is a challenge for contractors, causing a further setback to construction schedules.
Pollution due to stubble burning is sought to be controlled by strict enforcement and fines. However, the root cause remains: the perverse incentive to grow paddy (a crop unsuitable to Punjab, the main source of farm fires) by providing free water and electricity, and the lure of large (and assured) profits through a high minimum support price. Since this well-known systemic error defies correction, an alternative is an attractive MSP for stubble. This may change farmer behaviour and end pollution from farm fires.
Within the NCR cities, walking and cycling are actively – if unintentionally – discouraged as is evident from the terrible state of pavements and non-existent cycle lanes. In the rare cases where these exist and are in good shape, they are used by motorcycles and autorickshaws (sometimes, even cars), endangering pedestrians and cyclists. Surely, the authorities are aware of this? The attitude, however, is best exemplified by the fate of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Delhi. Instead of improving services and solving problems to popularise this ideal form of public transport, the lanes reserved for this were dismantled under pressure from the automobile lobby. The result: slower and inefficient bus services (already suffering from neglect and low investment) and an incentive to automobiles. The priority to automobiles is evident from proud announcements of long “signal-free stretches”, involving huge expenditure on flyovers and under-passes. However, there is neither interest nor funding for pedestrian skywalks, crossings, or well-maintained footpaths.
Simultaneously, trees (major carbon sinks) are being mercilessly cut down: legally, for ever-wider roads (another perverse incentive, which promotes the use of cars); and ‒ often illegally ‒ for farm-houses and villas. States like Haryana – despite a choking Gurgaon ‒ are fighting court cases to throw open forest land for more construction! Between apparent voter apathy on this issue and the absence of a political party which espouses the cause of the environment, the leaders do not seem to bother. Where is India’s version of the German Green Party? Sadly, big industry too – which should have shown some degree of enlightenment – is complicit. In states where they ride roughshod over local opposition and environmental concerns, some NGOs do stand up. Unfortunately, these are branded “anti-development” and are themselves under attack.
Yet, as we bemoan and suffer the pollution problem, one might note a few advantages. Smokers can now save on buying cigarettes, since research shows that our pollution levels are equivalent to smoking 34 cigarettes a day. Pollution-linked health issues are providing a big boost each year to the pharma industry, chemists, doctors, and hospitals. Those resisting the trend of “at least three days in office” can now continue to wear shorts and work from home, even as they save on petrol. Environmentalists become stars on TV, which itself gets a boost in TRPs by sensational pollution news, now that daily Gazan fatality figures have become as routine as “daring Israeli raids”. There is also the added advantage of using last year’s footage. School children are happy with the additional holidays. All in all, pollution has its pluses!
Meanwhile, it looks like “Poor” will for long seem like an A grade in the region’s pollution report card!
*The author loves to think in tongue-in-cheek ways, with no maliciousness or offence intended. At other times, he is a public policy analyst and author. His latest book is Decisive Decade: India 2030 Gazelle or Hippo (Rupa, 2021).