For the last few years, almost every November, Delhi and its surrounding areas have become a gas chamber. With the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing the 400 mark, it becomes difficult to even breathe. According to the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index Report 2023, prolonged exposure to severe air pollution could reduce the life expectancy of Delhi residents by an alarming 11.9 years. In the meantime, our elected leaders are busy in a blame game rather than finding a sustainable solution.
How can we fight this war against polluted air? First, we need a credible diagnosis of the problem. And second, we need appropriate policies and products to fight it.
We know that as winter sets in, the wind velocity slows down in the Himalayan shade, and pollutants (PM 2.5) hang in 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 first half of November 2024, the relative contribution from stubble burning (particularly from Punjab and Haryana) peaked at approximately 35.18 per cent on November 1 (Figure 1). This was followed by Delhi’s transport sector, contributing around 19 per cent. Other sources impacting particulate matter (PM 2.5) included residential areas (3.9 per cent), industries (4.6 per cent), construction (2.4 per cent), road dust (1.4 per cent), and other sources (1.2 per cent). Additionally, 30-35 per cent contribution comes from neighbouring areas such as Gurugram, Jhajjar, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
What policies and products can reduce this pollution? Firstly, 1 to 1.5 million hectares of paddy cultivation in Punjab and Haryana (out of about 4.5 million hectares) need to be diversified to other kharif crops. Paddy is not native to this region. Both states have borne significant environmental costs to help the nation achieve cereal self-sufficiency. The Centre and the state governments are aware of this and have taken initial steps towards crop diversification. But farmers continue to grow paddy as this is the most profitable of major field crops, and has the least market risk due to open-ended procurement by the government.
Our research at ICRIER reveals that a significant part of paddy profitability comes from large input subsidies on free power, highly subsidised fertilisers, and canal irrigation. In 2023-24, these subsidies amounted to Rs 38,973/ha in paddy cultivation in Punjab. But paddy cultivation in this region is leading to a massive depletion of groundwater (almost 11 to 12 metres in the last 22 years). On top of that, paddy generates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the tune of about 5 tonnes/ha. If farmers switch from paddy to say pulses, oilseeds or millets, or even kharif maize, much of these input subsidies going to paddy can be saved. This will help contain groundwater depletion and GHG emissions. But farmers will switch from paddy only when their profitability in competing crops is similar to that of paddy, and market risk is minimal.
Under the current crop diversification schemes, Punjab and Haryana offer Rs 17,500/ha to farmers who switch from paddy to other crops. But this incentive is only for one year, and it is too small to make the profits in alternative crops equal to paddy. We suggest that the Centre join hands with Punjab and Haryana governments and double up this incentive to at least Rs 35,000/ha. And this should be assured for at least five years. This would not cause any extra financial burden as the Centre will save on the fertiliser subsidy and states on power subsidies. Assured procurement of pulses and oilseeds from these states at minimum support prices (MSP) would also help farmers in reducing market risk, which in turn will help in reducing imports of pulses and edible oils. This could be a good beginning, not only for tackling Delhi’s pollution but also for sustainable agriculture in Punjab and Haryana.
The second key action is to expedite implementation of Delhi’s Electric Vehicles (EV) policy. This policy aims for 25 per cent of all new vehicle registrations to be EVs by 2024, now extended to March 2025, pending the launch of the EV 2.0 policy. Besides the high upfront cost of EVs, shortage of charging points has constrained its fast uptake. Given the acute air pollution in Delhi, EV purchases and its charging infrastructure needs to be taken up on war footing.
While the Delhi government plans to establish at least 30,000 charging points across the city, current data from the Switch Delhi website shows only 1,919 charging stations, 2,452 charging points, and 232 battery swapping stations. It should be mandatory for parking areas in residential colonies, offices, and malls to include EV charging points.
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The third policy action needed is to introduce innovative technologies to capture air pollutants, such as installing vacuum cleaning towers (smog towers) at major traffic crossings and in areas with high pollution levels. In fact, it won’t be a bad idea if the AAP government in Delhi changes its party symbol from jhadu (broom) to a vacuum cleaning tower.
With such a mix of policies, technology, and economics, Delhi can win the battle against air pollution, and then it can be extended to other cities in the Himalayan shade. This is a matter of survival.
Gulati is Distinguished Professor and Singh a Senior Fellow at ICRIER. Views are personal.
