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India’s Air Quality Is Dreadfully Bad. Again. Air Quality in India’s Capital Is Dreadfully Bad. Again.
(about 1 hour later)
NEW DELHI — This year’s air pollution season in northern India is off to a dreadful start, even by the standards of a region with some of the world’s worst air.NEW DELHI — This year’s air pollution season in northern India is off to a dreadful start, even by the standards of a region with some of the world’s worst air.
Particulate matter hovering over New Delhi, the capital, and nearby areas in recent days has turned the sky a muted gray and led to widespread suffering, school closings and other disruptions. Politicians are trading bitter accusations over who is to blame.Particulate matter hovering over New Delhi, the capital, and nearby areas in recent days has turned the sky a muted gray and led to widespread suffering, school closings and other disruptions. Politicians are trading bitter accusations over who is to blame.
“We are not breathing air but smoking it,” said Jyoti Pande Lavakare, an environmental activist in New Delhi and the author of “Breathing Here Is Injurious to Your Health,” a book about air pollution in the country.“We are not breathing air but smoking it,” said Jyoti Pande Lavakare, an environmental activist in New Delhi and the author of “Breathing Here Is Injurious to Your Health,” a book about air pollution in the country.
Public attention has focused on the pollution in New Delhi this week, she added, but hundreds of millions of people in northern India are also suffering from some of the worst air pollution they have seen in years.Public attention has focused on the pollution in New Delhi this week, she added, but hundreds of millions of people in northern India are also suffering from some of the worst air pollution they have seen in years.
India’s air quality, never great to begin with, tends to worsen in the autumn, when farmers burn straw left over from their rice harvests to make room for new planting. The pattern was no different this fall, but the latest air quality readings have been especially dire.India’s air quality, never great to begin with, tends to worsen in the autumn, when farmers burn straw left over from their rice harvests to make room for new planting. The pattern was no different this fall, but the latest air quality readings have been especially dire.
As of Thursday afternoon, 18 cities across India had “very poor” air, according to government data that tracked air quality numbers far above what the World Health Organization would consider healthy. The air in 12 other cities was “severe,” the worst on the country’s six-tier air quality scale. As of Friday afternoon, 16 cities across India had “very poor” air, according to government data that tracked air quality numbers far above what the World Health Organization would consider healthy. The air in 14 other cities was “severe,” the worst on the country’s six-tier air quality scale.
This week, the Delhi government asked residents to work from home or car pool. Truck traffic into the city was halted, and several school districts in the area moved classes online.This week, the Delhi government asked residents to work from home or car pool. Truck traffic into the city was halted, and several school districts in the area moved classes online.
On Friday, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, directed primary schools to close as of the end of Friday, and told schools to stop outdoor activities for older children. The country’s top human rights commission also summoned officials from Delhi and adjoining states for a meeting on crop burning.On Friday, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, directed primary schools to close as of the end of Friday, and told schools to stop outdoor activities for older children. The country’s top human rights commission also summoned officials from Delhi and adjoining states for a meeting on crop burning.
India’s latest air pollution crisis already has a sharp political edge, perhaps because some politicians are beginning to look ahead to the country’s 2024 general election.India’s latest air pollution crisis already has a sharp political edge, perhaps because some politicians are beginning to look ahead to the country’s 2024 general election.
On Wednesday, Mr. Kejriwal, Delhi’s chief minister, suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government should not blame only Delhi for the pollution, because it was widespread across northern India.On Wednesday, Mr. Kejriwal, Delhi’s chief minister, suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government should not blame only Delhi for the pollution, because it was widespread across northern India.
“This is not the time for blame game and politics, but time to find a solution to the problem,” he said.“This is not the time for blame game and politics, but time to find a solution to the problem,” he said.
The environment minister, Bhupender Yadav, fired back by saying that Mr. Kejriwal’s political party, a rival to Mr. Modi’s, was to blame for allowing crop burning to escalate in the neighboring state of Punjab, where it holds power.The environment minister, Bhupender Yadav, fired back by saying that Mr. Kejriwal’s political party, a rival to Mr. Modi’s, was to blame for allowing crop burning to escalate in the neighboring state of Punjab, where it holds power.
“There is no doubt over who has turned Delhi into a gas chamber,” Mr. Yadav wrote on Twitter.“There is no doubt over who has turned Delhi into a gas chamber,” Mr. Yadav wrote on Twitter.
Air pollution is typically caused by tiny particulate matter produced by burning coal, gasoline, wood, chemicals and other materials. The particulate matter penetrates the lungs and the bloodstream, worsening asthma and other lung disorders. It can also increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and other complications.Air pollution is typically caused by tiny particulate matter produced by burning coal, gasoline, wood, chemicals and other materials. The particulate matter penetrates the lungs and the bloodstream, worsening asthma and other lung disorders. It can also increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and other complications.
An estimated 4.2 million deaths worldwide in 2015 were attributable to long-term exposure to outdoor particulate pollution, according to a study in The Lancet, a medical journal. East Asia and South Asia accounted for an estimated 59 percent of the deaths, the authors wrote.An estimated 4.2 million deaths worldwide in 2015 were attributable to long-term exposure to outdoor particulate pollution, according to a study in The Lancet, a medical journal. East Asia and South Asia accounted for an estimated 59 percent of the deaths, the authors wrote.
In 2019, air pollution killed more Indians than any other risk factor, according to government data. But the burden from India’s bad air is not shared equally, in part because children from poor families spend more of their lives outdoors.In 2019, air pollution killed more Indians than any other risk factor, according to government data. But the burden from India’s bad air is not shared equally, in part because children from poor families spend more of their lives outdoors.
In India, governments on the federal and regional levels have been trying to fight air pollution by providing equipment to farmers that helps them dispose of crop residue without burning it — for example, by composting, in a process that takes a few weeks. Or, by encouraging them to change what they grow.In India, governments on the federal and regional levels have been trying to fight air pollution by providing equipment to farmers that helps them dispose of crop residue without burning it — for example, by composting, in a process that takes a few weeks. Or, by encouraging them to change what they grow.
But those programs are still in their infancy and will require more resources, along with farmers’ participation, said Sachchida Nand Tripathi, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur.But those programs are still in their infancy and will require more resources, along with farmers’ participation, said Sachchida Nand Tripathi, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur.
“If you want to get rid of it,” he said of northern India’s air pollution, “we need to talk to farmers’ leaders and tell them to move to other crops.”“If you want to get rid of it,” he said of northern India’s air pollution, “we need to talk to farmers’ leaders and tell them to move to other crops.”
Sameer Yasir reported from New Delhi and Mike Ives from Seoul.Sameer Yasir reported from New Delhi and Mike Ives from Seoul.