The launch of the national air quality index in Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has more symbolic than real significance. The index is in place in 10 major cities now and will be expanded to 46 others in due course. The launch of the index is a recognition of the seriousness of air pollution all over the country. It is also appropriate that it was launched from Delhi which has the dubious distinction of being the most polluted city in the world. The index will show the air quality at any given time on an everyday basis and so can give information to policy-makers, other authorities and the people. The quality of data may not always be the best as all monitoring stations are not fully equipped. The standards of pollution in India are also lower than the world standards laid down by the World Health Organisation. But the index can give some sense of the level of pollution.
The index will have real significance only if action is taken on the basis of its levels. It is not enough if advisories are issued at regular intervals. Information about air quality is more important than meteorological data in many ways. The authorities should be able to act on the basis of the changes in the index. In Beijing, if pollution remains high for three consecutive days, steps are taken to restrict industrial activity and the entry of vehicles into the city. The steps are reversed only when the index goes back to the old level. Many other cities in the world have similar incentives and disincentives linked to the level of the index. Regulations on schools, rescheduling of office hours and restrictions on transport are among them. These are short term or contingency measures. Steps should also be taken to ensure that air quality is within tolerable limits even without reactive measures.
Thirteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India. There is the need for permanent and often painful steps to ensure that the environment in cities, towns and even in some villages is clean. Shifting to cleaner fuels, greater use of renewable energy, installation of anti-pollution equipment in polluting industries or their relocation, adoption of cleaner technologies are all needed. Economic and technological issues and vested interests come into play when anti-pollution strategies are discussed and formulated. But the matter can no longer be ignored since people’s health is involved. The people will be able to put pressure on the authorities to take action since they will now have concrete data available to support the demand.
