Analysing air quality shows how tough it is to curb pollution only with forced restrictions: State of India’s Environmenmt 2021: In figures
Pollution in spring 2021 (January-March) higher than since 2019
Pollution levels dropped during two hard lockdowns (’20, ’21); but not during 2021 semi lockdown
April-May 2021 dirtier than a year ago
During 2020-21 winter, at least 14 new hotspots (higher seasonal average than mean) in Delhi-NCR
Three locations each added as hotspots in Gaziabad and Gautram Buddha Nagar (Noida).
Number of ‘severe’ and ‘severe-plus’ days stabilized in 2020; but more ‘poor’ days
These were revealed by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) June 4 in its analysis of air quality trends through the novel-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemicin Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The assessment by the Delhi-based thinktank during September 2018-May 2021 captured three successive winter, pre-pandemic and during the pandemic and during different stages of lockdown.
This reaffirms that while there has been substantial drop in particulate matter (PM)2.5 levels during both the hard lockdown phases in March to May in 2020 and April-June, 2021 with nearly similar levels evoking imagery of blue sky, the early months of 2021 or the spring time has witnessed worsening.
“This indicates that despite the partial restrictions the pollution level have increased. While the reason needs investigation, it is important to underscore that there would be a rebound effect with full opening of the economy and intensification of traffic. Pandemic management during the second wave may have slowed down action but this has to speed up to prevent the rebound effect or retaliatory emissions to ensure longer term air quality gains”, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE, and the head of its sustainable urbanisation, air pollution and mobility programmes.
This is particularly important given the new science on the linkage between air quality and its effect on vulnerability to the pandemic.
“The key highlight is that the spring time – January to March, when pollution level begins to subside after winter, PM2.5 this year has recorded highest seasonal levels compared to the corresponding period in preceding years including the normal year of 2019,” said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager at CSE’s Urban Lab team of the Sustainable Cities programme.
The analysis was based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi and NCR. Visit the CSE website for more details.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Heavy smog over Delhi Photo: Vikas Choudhary.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.