As AQI levels in Delhi NCR cross 500 again, citizens rate pollution control and civic bodies as ineffective

November 19, 2024, New Delhi: Delhi NCR is back to facing “severe” levels of air pollution, with air quality index (AQI) back to levels of over 500 in most parts, leading the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to again impose Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV.

Stubble burning in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana does impact Delhi's air quality during October-November. However, at this time stubble burning is not a factor and yet parts of Delhi NCR are seeing AQI levels oof over 600.

In October, scores of civil society organisations had collectively urged the Delhi government to scrap a proposal to burn 100% of waste generated in the national capital under Waste to Energy (WTE) initiatives. In a memorandum, they had demanded that the four WTE incinerators already operating in Delhi NCR should also be brought under the GRAP as they are greatly contributing to the air pollution. Together the four WTE incinerators burn approximately 8,000 tons of unsegregated municipal solid waste, producing pollutants that have been overlooked in GRAP measures to control air pollution. The collective had demanded conducting a comprehensive study on the impacts of WTE incineration on Delhi’s air quality and human health and making them publicly available.

Besides the WTE, Delhi NCR is riddled with vehicular emissions as millions of cars, motorcycles and buses ply on the road alongside green vehicles raising dust and vehicular pollution. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicular emissions have emerged as the leading contributor to Delhi's air pollution, particularly during the winter months. Each day, approximately 1.1 million vehicles enter and exit Delhi, significantly exacerbating the already poor air quality.

Periodically, the Delhi authorities press road cleaning vehicles into service but by and large most streets are cleaned manually raising large amount of dusts. In winter, homeless people and workers living in hutments around the city can be seen huddles around bonfires, using waste wood and garbage.

Looking at the unaddressed issues that continue to impact the lives and health of Delhi NCR residents, LocalCircles in a new survey has tried to find out from people what do they think are the main reason why Delhi and NCR are still seeing such toxic air quality despite no stubble burning. The survey received over 20,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women.

As Delhi’s air turns highly toxic again, 36% citizens attribute it to rampant garbage burning while 21% list top cause as industrial and power plant emissions

The survey first asked Delhi NCR residents, “Delhi NCR again has 500+ AQI levels. What according to you is currently the top reason for toxic air?” Out of 10,246 Delhi NCR residents who responded to the question 36% stated “rampant garbage burning” is the main cause of high air pollution; 14% of respondents stated “current weather”; 21% of respondents stated “industrial and power plant emissions”; 7% of respondents stated “construction activity”; 8% of respondents stated “road dust and manual sweeping”; and14% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, as Delhi’s air turns highly toxic again, 36% citizens attribute it to rampant garbage burning while 21% list the top cause as industrial and power plant emissions.

Not a single Delhi NCR resident surveyed believes that the pollution control department and civic agencies in their area are effective in enforcing GRAP and related rules against root causes of pollution

Having witnessed various efforts to control air pollution including one phase of GRAP IV and another one in force, the survey asked Delhi NCR residents, “How effective are the pollution control department and civic agencies in enforcing GRAP and related rules against root causes of pollution in your area?” Out of 10,100 Delhi NCR residents who responded to the question, 29% stated “quite ineffective”; 50% stated “totally ineffective” and 21% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, not a single Delhi NCR resident surveyed believes that the pollution control department and civic agencies in their area are effective in enforcing GRAP and related rules against root causes of pollution.

In summary, as Delhi’s air turns highly toxic again, 36% of citizens attribute the pollution to rampant garbage burning while 21% list industrial and power plant emissions as the top cause of high air pollution. What is most telling is that not a single Delhi NCR resident surveyed believes that the pollution control department and civic agencies in their area are effective in enforcing GRAP and related rules against curbing the root causes of pollution. The Delhi government and pollution control agencies including the Commission for Air Quality Management need to study the various reports about the leading causes of pollution and take more concrete action rather than depend on GRAP measures to temporarily fix the problem as it has severe impact on everyone’s health. The survey results clearly indicate that their existing efforts of pollution control and civic bodies are rated poorly at best by the residents of Delhi NCR. The tax paying citizens of Delhi and NCR are plain upset that even after a decade of time and patience, these local bodies and the state and central government agencies continue to fail them.

Survey Demographics

The survey received over 20,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform, and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.