The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on 17 January, revoked Stage-III measures under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective immediately across Delhi- NCR after air quality deteriorated. However, actions under Stage-I and II of extant GRAP measures are intensified to prevent AQI from slipping down further.
However, even after the restrictions in place, Delhi residents face health problems as the national capital struggles to breathe toxic air. The Delhi government had earlier initiated measures like work from home and use of anti-smog guns.
The spotlight is back on the issue of air pollution as voting day nears for assembly elections in the Union Territory. The national capital is ailed by the pollution crisis every year with the onset of winter, especially post Diwali. Increased pollution levels have a fallout on various aspects of life including health.
The Delhi government had initiated a 21-steps plan and had implemented GRAP with emergency measures like work from home, artificial rains, use of anti-smog guns, imposing a ban on firecrackers and penalising the defaulters to address the problem.
According to IQAir, a Swiss air-quality monitoring organisation, New Delhi ranked as the world’s most polluted capital city and the third most polluted city overall in March 2023. Alka Sahani, 21, dreads the onset of pollution in the city. Over the past two years, Sahani, a fourth-year law student at Indraprastha University, has developed respiratory issues because of air pollution. “Pollution levels have risen over the past few years. Every year, I struggle to cope with the poor air quality. I face difficulty in breathing and everyday life becomes difficult. My eyes burn and itch which makes it tougher for me,” she said
Despite calls for “immediate action” by the Supreme Court, the Delhi government fails to tackle the pollution situation. The Apex court on October 16, 2024 had criticised the states of Punjab and Haryana, stating that they have taken little effective action against stubble burning which is a major contributor to the Capital’s pollution. The court stressed that this practice worsens air quality in Delhi and neighbouring areas, especially during winter. The decision came after the court had sought a report from CAQM on incidents of stubble burning and action taken against these occurrences.
A retired 63-year-old resident of Rohini, Ram Singh, shared the difficulties he faced due to elevated pollution levels. He argued, “The last decade has been unbearable and unfortunate. Our personal lives are affected. Taking a morning walk is a task.”
Dr. Swapna Ale, a doctor at a Delhi government-run Mohalla Clinic in Rohini sector-24, said that worsening pollution levels in recent years have significantly increased respiratory issues among residents. She pointed out that air pollution leads to serious health risks such as heart attacks, asthma, upper respiratory problems and even early memory loss. Ale mentioned, “Both men and women are facing reproductive health challenges, with infertility on the rise as pollution is causing a decrease in sperm count among men, while women are increasingly suffering from conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and ovary failure.”. She noted that individuals with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of pollution.
Amina Hussain, a professor at Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia said pollution affects people of different castes and classes differently. She stated that “House helps, drivers, hawkers and people who rely on street work for their livelihood are among the hardest hit by excessive exposure to polluted air.” She added that migrants and people belonging to lower castes who come to Delhi are the most affected.
The Delhi government’s Department of Environment did not respond to queries seeking comments on the government’s plans to combat the situation post-diwali.
