Delhi Bracing For Annual Pollution Pall

As winter’s chill begins creeping into the morning calm of Delhi, the Indian capital is once again enveloped in air pollution, with smoke from crop stubble burning by farmers in nearby states adding to the already serious problem. The smoke levels rise so much that doctors advise residents to forgo outdoor activities like morning walks. According to a BBC report, India loses an estimated USD 95 billion to air pollution every year. The smoke affecting Delhi primarily originates from the states of Haryana and Punjab. Although air pollution remains an issue year-round, it worsens during the winter months, even impacting flights between Kathmandu and Delhi due to the dense smog.

With October’s end and the rains subsiding, north-westerly winds begin to carry fumes from burning fields. November brings the festival of Deepawali, among other celebrations across South Asia. In India, Deepawali especially sees millions lighting firecrackers in celebration. Despite growing awareness of the need to stop crop stubble and firecracker burning, the air quality in Delhi continues to deteriorate at the onset of winter, dominating media coverage as it makes life in the capital increasingly challenging.

Court order 

For over four decades, this issue has been taken to court, and India’s top courts have tried to address it, issuing orders to both government and citizens to implement air quality improvement measures. However, an ongoing conflict exists between India’s central government, currently led by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), and Delhi’s local government, led by the Aam Adami Party (AAP). Both the parties are accused by the public that instead of sorting this issue, their nerve-ending disputes are only worsening the situation. Farmers, dissatisfied with government policies, are equally impacted, as are local residents, who suffer economically and health-wise from the worsening air. 

The Supreme Court of India has led reform efforts to reduce pollution in Delhi. Measures include regulating vehicles plying on Delhi's roads, instituting an odd-even rule for vehicle use, relocating or closing polluting factories, and enforcing stricter emissions standards. While the Supreme Court has sometimes been praised for compelling governments to act, it has also faced criticism for the ongoing severity of Delhi’s air pollution, particularly in winter, despite decades of efforts. The apex court began addressing Delhi’s pollution in 1984, when environmentalist M.C. Mehta filed petitions on three key issues: rising vehicular pollution in Delhi, pollution’s impact on the Taj Mahal, and the contamination of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. These cases remain open till date, with new concerns added over the years.

According to India’s government-run SAFAR website, the levels of PM 2.5 — tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and cause multiple diseases — reached 350 micrograms per cubic meter in some parts of Delhi on October 28, 2024. SAFAR categorises air quality as “very poor” when PM 2.5 levels reach 300–400 and as “severe” when levels exceed 400. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), last week’s pollution levels in Delhi exceeded safe limits by 25 to 30 times.

Stubble burning is a result of farmers needing to clear crop residues before planting new ones — a vital process that ensures food security. However, due to limited resources such as water storage systems and waste management equipment, many farmers resort to burning crop residues. This creates smog that blankets Delhi and surrounding areas. Farming groups report a need for financial and technical support to manage crop waste through alternative methods, but existing government schemes have proven inadequate. While there are compensation programmes offering payments per acre for not burning stubble, farmers say these payments often fail to materialise. 

Scientific studies indicate alternative farming methods, like sowing wheat directly over crop remains with specialised tractors that mulch and sow simultaneously, could help reduce stubble burning. Although some farmers have adopted this method, it has yet to use widely and thus lacks a substantial impact. Effective collaboration among governments, civil society, businesses, and farmers is needed to implement and scale up these solutions. 

Atmospheric pollutants

According to a study done by Muyang Lin and Toritseju Bego on crop residues in South Asia, the Indo-Gangetic Plain is a hot spot for atmospheric pollutants, with seasonal crop residues burning being a major contributor. The burning of crop residues is reported to degrade soil, increase risk of erosion and amplify the soil temperature, consequently destroying soil microorganisms. The study emphasises that this subsequently impacts the monetary cost involved in recovering the soil fertility and the potential for further pollution through the increased use of fertilisers. Reasons for burning crop residues are mainly the high cost of incorporating, collecting, transporting, and processing crop residues in South Asia. Labour shortages and the time span between one harvest and another influences the farmers to resort to burning the residues rather that process it. 

Also, marketability of crop residues in South Asia, in general, seems to be difficult. It is often easier to burn the residues. Adoption of machines to help farmers in clearing the residues can help them, however lack of awareness and access to easy finance to buy these machines often stops farmers in South Asia from changing their generations old practice of burning the crop residues. While the Kathmandu Valley may not face winter smoke levels as severe as Delhi’s, its pollution levels are also a growing concern. Last year, fires in surrounding forests filled the valley with smoke, blackening streets and buildings in areas like Lalitpur. It’s essential to prevent fires and contain possibility of any outbreaks swiftly.

(Sharma is a senior journalist and women’s rights advocate. namrata1964@yahoo.com, Twitter handle: @NamrataSharmaP)