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Risks in Delhi: Environmental concerns
Taranjot Kaur Gadhok
senior Fellow
HSMI (HUSDCO), New Delhi
In Delhi toady pollution is one of the most critical problems facing the public and concerned authorities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Delhi is the fourth most polluted city in the world in terms of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). The growing pollution is responsible for increasing health problems. the deteriorating environment is the result of population pressure and haphazard growth. Industrial development has been haphazard and unplanned. Only about 2-% of the industrial units are in approved industrial areas; the remainder are spread over the city in residential and commercial area Road transport is the sole mode of public transport; there has been a phenomenal increase in the vehicle population, which was increased from2 lackh in 1971 to 2 lakh in 1999. (NCT Fact Sheet Delhi, 1999).
Pollution levels
Ambient air quality
Data from continuous monitoring of air quality reveals that suspended particulate matter levels still far exceed stipulated standards, there is a significant downward trend as indicated in the following tables.
According to a study by Delhi Pollution Control committee, noise levels in Delhi exceeds permissible levels in all areas except industrial areas. since noise is measured on a logarithmic scale, an increase of every 3-5 dBA has twice the effect on humans. Diesel generating sets and vehicles, particularly auto rickshaws, have been identified as major sources of noise pollution in Delhi.
Air pollution
Due to phenomenal growth in the number of motor vehicles Delhi and power generation based on a fired power stations, total amount on coal fired power stations, total amount of pollutants received by the city is around 3000 tonnes as compared to 100 tonnes a decade ago. Sixty five percent of these pollutants are produced by motor vehicles. Annual average maximum, levels of SPM in Delhi's air has increased from 7.6 times the permissible limit in 1987 to 16.7 time in 1995.
Average annual emissions compared to national and international standards (ug/m3)
| |
SO2 |
NO2 |
SPM |
Delhi
NAAQ for |
33 |
46.0 |
543 |
| Residential Area |
60 |
60 |
140 |
| Industrial areas |
80 |
80 |
360 |
| Sensitive areas |
15 |
15 |
70 |
| WHO std |
50 |
100(US EPS Std) |
75 |
SO2: Sulphur Dioxide, NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide, SPM: Suspended Particulate Matter
Ug/m3: Microgrammes per cubic meters, NAAQS: National Ambient Air Quality Standards,
WHO: World Health Organization, Sensitive Areas: Hospitals, national heritage sites like the Taj Mahal
The reduction in lead emission content form 0.56 6o 0.15 is due to introduction of unleaded petrol even while the consumption increased five times in 1994-1995.
Vehicular pollution
The steep increase in vehicle population has resulted.
Total sector- wise emissions in Delhi
(metric tones per day)
| Pollutants |
Transport |
Power |
Industry |
Domestic |
Total |
| Hydrocarbon |
310 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
320 |
| Suspended |
13 |
50 |
60 |
12 |
135
|
Particulate Matter
Nitrogen |
157 |
143 |
20 |
3 |
323
|
Oxides Sulphur
Dioxide |
11 |
121 |
35 |
12 |
179
|
| Carbon Monoxide |
810 |
8 |
128 |
117 |
1,063 |
Estimates of annual health incidences in India cities due to ambient air pollution levels
| Cities |
Premature death |
Hospital admissions
and sickness requiring
medical treatment |
Incidence of
minor sickness |
| Ahmedabad |
2979 |
1,183,033 |
72,177,644 |
| Bangalore |
254 |
135,887 |
8,326,282 |
| Calcutta |
5726 |
2,022,786 |
179,479,908 |
| Delhi |
7491 |
2,990,012 |
241,958,219 |
| Hyderabad |
768 |
420,947 |
31,708,958 |
| Jaipur |
1145 |
520,947 |
31,708,958 |
| Kanpur |
1894 |
812,381 |
49,247,224 |
| Madras |
863 |
416,966 |
27,859,485 |
| Mumbai |
4477 |
2,57,210 |
156,452,916 |
| Patna |
725 |
319,242 |
19,561,109 |
In a corresponding increase in pollutants emitted by vehicles. Petrol consumption has increased from 133 thousands tons in 1980-81 to 449 thousand tons in 1996-97 and HSD consumption from 377 thousands tons to 1,234 thousand tons during the same period. Two wheelers, which constitute 66% of the vehicles registered in Delhi, are the major source of air pollution.
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