Toxic air makes Delhiites choke every year; it’s time we arrest further fall in abyss

My name is Yashraj Mehta. It has been three-quarters of a score for which I have lived. I was born in Delhi, have grown up here, and continue to live here. Thus, I deem it safe to assume that this place is my home. Being the capital of my beloved nation, India, I always believed that this territory ought to be allocated the most importance by the people and the government. It contains all of the important administrative buildings and is home to 4 different ruling administrations: Its own state government, the Punjab state government, the Haryana state government, and of course, the Central Government. This makes it a vital, essential component of our nation, and therefore should not be treated lightly.

It’s a truth, that nothing can be perfect. That is especially applicable to cities. The word “eutopia” is used for a perfect place, but it’s almost identical to the word “utopia”, which is used for a place that does not exist. Clearly, there’s a message being displayed here. However, cities always have room for improvement in all facets. Some of those may be minor improvements, whereas others may pertain to a more macrocosmic scale.

There is one regard in which Delhi has really disappointed me, considering the reasoning for all the great expectations that I have listed. That is, of course, air pollution.

It was on the 8^th of November, 2016, when I attended a rally on Delhi’s air pollution. This was after Diwali, whose celebration resulted in the air quality depreciating significantly. I distinctly remember one speech from that day, of a woman who lost her father at the hands of this grotesque air. Being a young 9-year-old, that woman’s struggle stuck with me. Every consecutive year after that, the air quality around that portion of the annum remains more abhorrent- almost like a circle of Hell from Dante’s Inferno.

The air quality index remains in the 400-500 range during this time, which is severe: the worst tier in AQI. In Canada, schools are closed when the AQI goes beyond 50.  And yet, in 2019, we “achieved” a peak of 1200 AQI. Akin to getting your soul drained and extracted from you. Truly a sign that we’re doing something awfully wrong.

Considering this regular infestation of PM 2.5 in our air, I am completely certain that my lungs are black as tar. I’m sure a lot of Delhiites would vouch for the same. Despite this, I’d consider myself one of the lucky ones. There’s an abundance of asthmatics and senior citizens who must be suffering severely under these conditions. I believe some of the readers may be consumed by such trepidation.

Beyond the internal damage caused by air pollution, it is extremely denting to our lifestyles. Outdoor activities like cycling, brisk walking, and running become dangerous, which reduces much-needed physical activity and mental enrichment. The smoke irritates our eyes, breathing becomes short and pestering, and we always risk getting a sore throat or some other respiratory hassle.

This has been enforced quite literally on us, with the government having to ban outdoor activities in school up until late November. In the time of winter, a season full of festivals and vacations, we are being constrained by the weather in this manner. Something that we could certainly prevent.

Let’s not forget the economic problems that emerge as a result of this smog. Tourists become dissuaded, concerts get cancelled, and so much commuting gets interfered with as restrictions on transport remain prevalent. Not only is the odd-even scheme in place, but another ruling was enforced as well: vehicles from other states are not allowed to enter either. This further hinders economic activities.

This smog, of course, originates from the pernicious practice of stubble burning, which remains prevalent in our neighbouring states: Punjab and Haryana. It’s a practice wherein paddy straw and rice crops are burnt quickly in order to prepare the land for the cultivation of wheat, which is an interval of 2-3 weeks. Superficially, it seems like a great idea: The crops are removed very quickly, at a relatively cheap price. However, the drawbacks are far too significant.

The pollutants released from it are vast and linger over the Delhi-NCR region for months, and the soil itself is heavily damaged as a result of burning. In the process of preparing the soil for the next cultivation, it actually becomes less fertile and suitable for wheat. It has become such a problem that as of now, there might be over a thousand FIRs registered against farmers for committing this diabolical act.

There are numerous alternatives to preparing land for the next crop. There could be better machinery installed to remove the remaining crops and straws much more quickly, so that burning wouldn’t be necessary. This crop could be put to good use, being used for clean biofuels, paper, building materials, and a whole variety of chemicals manufactured using the abundant Lignin present in paddy straw. But these solutions must be enforced in order to be implemented, and farmers must be educated about these uses.

Not only would the problem of air pollution in the winter be vastly reduced, but the soils would retain their fertility, and thus be more suited for the very wheat crop that the farmers stress so much about. Sure, it would be an expensive scheme to set up initially, but it would be extremely useful in the long term: vehicle enforcements wouldn’t have to be in place, festivals and other celebrations wouldn’t be interfered with, many medical bills and sick leaves would be prevented, and so on. A more than decade-long cycle would be brought to an end.

Overall, the problem of Delhi’s air pollution is one of serious concern and one which can and must be handled. With the many administrations here, it is expected that the problem is addressed immediately and overcome as quickly as possible.