Air pollution: New Delhi adopts emergency measures
Due to increased levels of pollutants in the air, the Indian capital is stepping up countermeasures to counteract the enormous smog pollution. However, it is not expected that these measures will lead to a long-term improvement in air quality.
Air pollution in and around the Indian metropolis is among the highest in the world. And in winter, when farmers burn the excess crop residues, the pollution levels are astronomical. In addition, there are season-independent influencing factors such as vehicle exhausts, industrial fumes and much more. The result? Currently, the fine dust pollution in New Delhi is many times higher than the limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as acceptable - at peak times at 588 per cubic metre of air and thus 40 times higher than the WHO value. A problem that, incidentally, does not affect all citizens equally and illustrates the strong social differences that still characterise Indian society. For example, the wealthier citizens can afford air filters to keep pollutants out of their homes.
The Indian capital, however, has plans to reduce the smog-related environmental burden - at least in the short term. In the face of ever-worsening particulate matter levels, New Delhi has taken a series of emergency measures over the past week. These included a temporary closure of primary schools to protect children from the massive smog. As well as a request to all companies to let their employees work in their home offices. According to Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai, these are intended to reduce the risk of exposure to bad air for residents, while at the same time having a conditional effect on reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Diesel driving bans have also been implemented. According to the authorities, a fairly successful intervention so far, as the air quality at the measuring stations has now improved from "massive" to "very poor" - and consequently even allows for a reopening of the schools for next Wednesday. Certainly not an ideal result, but no less than what the authorities expected from the measures taken. That these would be sufficient to drive real positive changes in the overall environmental situation in India was never the intention of the city administration. Rather, the aim was to intervene against the alarming air pollution in a short time.
However, New Delhi is currently also considering the introduction of further climate protection instruments. Above all, the city wants to tackle one of the causes of air pollution, namely motorised road traffic, at its roots and have the corresponding emissions reduced. The introduction of a traffic metering system based on alternating number plates or the support of affordable electric mobility offers are just some of the proposals on the table. However, it is not yet clear how exactly the city will tackle its air pollution levels, which are harmful to the environment and health - perhaps with permanent diesel driving bans or a low emission zone?