Three solutions for clean air

We cognize that arsenic wintertime sets in, the upwind velocity slows down successful the Himalayan shade, and pollutants (PM 2.5) bent successful the air. But what are the sources of these pollutants during these months? As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, during the archetypal fractional of November 2024, the comparative publication from stubble burning (particularly from Punjab and Haryana) peaked astatine astir 35.18 per cent connected November 1 (Figure 1). This was followed by Delhi’s transport sector, contributing astir 19 per cent. Other sources impacting particulate substance (PM 2.5) included residential areas (3.9 per cent), industries (4.6 per cent), operation (2.4 per cent), roadworthy particulate (1.4 per cent), and different sources (1.2 per cent). Additionally, 30-35 per cent publication comes from neighbouring areas specified arsenic Gurugram, Jhajjar, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

What policies and products tin trim this pollution? Firstly, 1 to 1.5 cardinal hectares of paddy cultivation successful Punjab and Haryana (out of astir 4.5 cardinal hectares) request to beryllium diversified to different kharif crops. Paddy is not autochthonal to this region. Both states person borne important biology costs to assistance the federation execute cereal self-sufficiency. The Centre and the authorities governments are alert of this and person taken archetypal steps towards harvest diversification. But farmers proceed to turn paddy arsenic this is the astir profitable of large tract crops, and has the slightest marketplace hazard owed to open-ended procurement by the government.

Our probe astatine ICRIER reveals that a important portion of paddy profitability comes from ample input subsidies connected escaped power, highly subsidised fertilisers, and canal irrigation. In 2023-24, these subsidies amounted to Rs 38,973/ha successful paddy cultivation successful Punjab. But paddy cultivation successful this portion is starring to a monolithic depletion of groundwater (almost 11 to 12 metres successful the past 22 years). On apical of that, paddy generates greenhouse state (GHG) emissions to the tune of astir 5 tonnes/ha. If farmers power from paddy to accidental pulses, oilseeds oregon millets, oregon adjacent kharif maize, overmuch of these input subsidies going to paddy tin beryllium saved. This volition assistance incorporate groundwater depletion and GHG emissions. But farmers volition power from paddy lone erstwhile their profitability successful competing crops is akin to that of paddy, and marketplace hazard is minimal.

Under the existent harvest diversification schemes, Punjab and Haryana connection Rs 17,500/ha to farmers who power from paddy to different crops. But this inducement is lone for 1 year, and it is excessively tiny to marque the profits successful alternate crops adjacent to paddy. We suggest that the Centre articulation hands with Punjab and Haryana governments and treble up this inducement to astatine slightest Rs 35,000/ha. And this should beryllium assured for astatine slightest 5 years. This would not origin immoderate other fiscal load arsenic the Centre volition prevention connected the fertiliser subsidy and states connected powerfulness subsidies. Assured procurement of pulses and oilseeds from these states astatine minimum enactment prices (MSP) would besides assistance farmers successful reducing marketplace risk, which successful crook volition assistance successful reducing imports of pulses and edible oils. This could beryllium a bully beginning, not lone for tackling Delhi’s contamination but besides for sustainable agriculture successful Punjab and Haryana.

The 2nd cardinal enactment is to expedite implementation of Delhi’s Electric Vehicles (EV) policy. This argumentation aims for 25 per cent of each caller conveyance registrations to beryllium EVs by 2024, present extended to March 2025, pending the motorboat of the EV 2.0 policy. Besides the precocious upfront outgo of EVs, shortage of charging points has constrained its accelerated uptake. Given the acute aerial contamination successful Delhi, EV purchases and its charging infrastructure needs to beryllium taken up connected warfare footing.

While the Delhi authorities plans to found astatine slightest 30,000 charging points crossed the city, existent information from the Switch Delhi website shows lone 1,919 charging stations, 2,452 charging points, and 232 artillery swapping stations. It should beryllium mandatory for parking areas successful residential colonies, offices, and malls to see EV charging points.

The 3rd argumentation enactment needed is to present innovative technologies to seizure aerial pollutants, specified arsenic installing vacuum cleaning towers (smog towers) astatine large postulation crossings and successful areas with precocious contamination levels. In fact, it won’t beryllium a atrocious thought if the AAP authorities successful Delhi changes its enactment awesome from jhadu (broom) to a vacuum cleaning tower.

With specified a premix of policies, technology, and economics, Delhi tin triumph the conflict against aerial pollution, and past it tin beryllium extended to different cities successful the Himalayan shade. This is simply a substance of survival.

Gulati is Distinguished Professor and Singh a Senior Fellow astatine ICRIER. Views are personal.