Air pollution report card DOWN TO EARTH

It’s that time of the year again. The winter is closing in. The cold will bring inversion and trap the pollutants close to the ground on which we breathe. But this year, in spite of the recent Diwali high pollution episode, I hope, we will breathe at least a little easier. Why do I say so? Let’s take stock of what we have done and what needs to be done for the right to clean air.

First, there is the issue of public awareness. This is crucial and makes the difference between inaction and action. I believe the air pollution concern is today widespread. Last winter’s public health emergency — when pollution levels spiralled out of control — has brought about a clear understanding of the link between toxins and our bodies. From pesticide poisoning to water pollution, this body connection is hard to establish. More importantly, there is a cop-out option. For instance, in the case of water pollution, we don’t connect the dying river to our taps. And if we do, there is always the option of installing a household water filter, or just buying bottled water. So it is not our business to push for change.

But air pollution is a great societal leveller. As I have written before, install all the air purifiers you want but you will have to breathe air sometimes. Also, the nature of pollutants is mutating so fast that the air purifiers in our homes cannot keep pace with deadly poisons. So, action is needed. We drive the change because it impacts our bodies and our children’s health.

Second, there is a plan for action. I find that most of the time action is lost because we have a million reasons why something else needs to be done and not anything specific. I’m not being facetious. This is a fact. Think about it.

So, last year, this time, with pollution choking us, my colleagues pushed for a smog emergency plan. This plan, goaded by the Supreme Court, was finally notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change sometime in January 2017. Called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), it lists a set of actions that need to be taken as and when pollution levels rise. Think of it like a disaster alert system, which requires taking tougher and tougher actions as pollution levels rise. The red alert is when things are out of control as the city will need to come to a standstill. But the aim of the plan is not to shut down the city but to work hard to implement each level of action so that the city (or region) does not need to take emergency action.

This winter, the GRAP’s very poor-severe category (levels 3 and 4) kicked in on October 17 and will continue till the winter ebbs in late February or mid-March. This is being done to ensure that air pollutants don’t escalate to the point of emergency (level 5). According to the plan, the following steps are being taken: One, to close down the Badarpur thermal power plant, which adds to Delhi’s pollution; two, to shut down brick kilns (in the National Capital Region) that have not converted to zigzag technology, much cleaner than the current method of firing mud bricks; thirdly, in Delhi, where power is in surplus, to shut down the use of generator sets; and fourthly, to increase the watch on all things that contribute to air pollution, from construction and road dust, garbage burning to visibly polluting vehicles. This requires regular attention from the very top of the governance chain. Hopefully this will happen this year.

The third big win is that based on this plan a dense network of pollution-monitoring stations will be set up in the region. So, for the first time, instead of getting an aggregate and vague idea of pollution, we will know where the levels are spiking and so local action can be taken to control ambient air pollution.

The fourth big win is that the Supreme Court insisted on the introduction of BS IV fuel and vehicles in April this year. This will add to pollution gains. The trucks, which are the biggest contributor to vehicular emissions, will spew much less toxin. It is another matter that the gains of cleaner fuels are being lost because of larger numbers of trucks and dirty technology. But still it is an improvement.

The fifth gain is the gradual reduction in sales of private diesel vehicles that we are beginning to show up — largely because of the 10-year age cap imposed by the National Green Tribunal and the closing of the price gap between the two fuels.

That said, there is still an incomplete agenda, which needs further attention. India imports and uses massive amounts of dirty fuels like pet coke and furnace oil. The emissions are deadly and uncontrolled. Then, there is the issue of the roughly 30-day period of crop burning in neighbouring states. This agenda requires careful handling so that farmers have alternatives — from machines to prices for their residue. There is also the matter of moving more of our vehicles, factories, and power plants to cleaner fuels like natural gas.

But let me stop here. The fact is that we know what to do. If we keep our focus and don’t drop the ball, and keep taking action, then pollution will go away. Let’s keep at it.