Delhi: Authorities intensify efforts as air quality dips into “very poor” category

As the air quality of the national capital dipped into the “very poor” category, 363 on October 23, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the authorities are leaving no stone unturned to fight the dust pollution in Delhi, one of the major contributors to the city’s pollution crisis.

Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD)

A senior civic official said, “The MCD 12 zones collectively removed 404.65 metric tonnes (MT) of waste on September 24. It was able to remove 6,156.94 MT of silt and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste in the national capital.

“The Shahdara South Zone continued to demonstrate the most significant progress, removing a combined total of 1,230.76 MT in the first phase of its DustFree Delhi Drive. Keshapuram zone was next, and it was also able to remove 1,019.67 MT of waste,” the official said.

“The removed silt and C&D waste are being safely transported to designated dumping sites for proper disposal and bio-remediation. While this initial effort of removing the silt from various choked drains is in progress and encouraging, the road ahead remains tough,” he said.

Informing about the action plan for dust pollution, he said, “MCD has deployed 52 Mechanical Road Sweepers (MRS) to carry out sweeping on Public Works Department (PWD) roads. The corporation has a fleet of 195 water sprinklers/jetting machines, and 30 mobile Anti-Smog Guns (ASGs) have been deployed on various roads to abate dust pollution.”

“The MCD has installed 20 ASGs at various facilities like C&D plants, Sanitary Landfill (SLF), Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants, etc. Fifteen ASGs have been installed at identified high-rise buildings of MCD in compliance with the direction of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and are currently functional,” he said.

“MCD has repaired approximately 6,700 potholes covering an area of 19,800 sqm from April 2024 to August 2024. Moreover, it is a routine process to check newly occurring potholes and repair them as a priority. During this period, roads with a length of 50 km were resurfaced or repaired. By November 2024, 60 km of road length will be paved or repaired,” a senior official said.

For picking up dried silt and C&D waste, he said, “MCD has 106 designated C&D waste dumpsites at various zone locations. Roadside dust is collected by MRS and disposed of at secondary collection points, from where it is taken to dumpsites (Okhla & Bhalswa) and C&D waste processing plants (Shastri Nagar) for final disposal and processing. The corporation has four C&D waste processing plants at Bakkarwala (1,000 TPD), Ranikhera (1,000 TPD), Shastri Park (1,000 TPD), and Jahangirpuri/ Burari (2,000 TPD).” Taking stern action against violations of dust pollution norms, a senior official said, “The Building Department, MCD, has issued 801 challans amounting to Rs 1,42,75,000, of which Rs 10,85,000 has been realised during the period from April 2024 to August 2024.”

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)

A senior official stated that the NDMC has also taken several measures to fight dust pollution in its jurisdiction. “The council has issued 30 challans of Rs 50,000 each, amounting to Rs 15 lakh, to violators as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines,” the official said.

“To control dust emissions, the NDMC has deployed six mechanical road sweepers in two shifts with GPS tracking, covering 227 km per day, and all routes are monitored round the clock.”

“Additionally, all roads are greenpaved, with 10,000 saplings and 3 lakh shrubs planted this year. Eight mobile ASGs and one static mist spray machine at Pandit Pant Marg help reduce dust particles in the air,” he said.

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“NDMC also uses 20 water tankers to sprinkle Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)- treated water on roads, with operations monitored by senior officers. C&D waste is collected daily, with 65.22 metric tonnes sent to the Okhla recycling plant, and there are 14 designated sites for this waste. A dedicated team inspects for unauthorised dumping, issuing challans to violators when necessary,” the civic official added.

Measures To Curb Pollution

As the Delhi AQI dips into the “very poor” category, Chief Minister Atishi took cognisance of the matter and listed measures to address the issue.

Speaking about C&D waste, CM Atishi announced that 79 MCD teams will work during the day and 75 teams at night to remove this waste.

She emphasised the importance of this measure in reducing PM2.5 and PM10 levels.

“Another important mandate for the MCD is to prevent open biomass burning. For this, 116 teams will be deployed during the day, and 116 teams at night, to stop any form of open biomass or waste burning,” she added.

Talking about road dust control, Atishi mentioned that one of the major causes of road dust is damaged roads. “The PWD is repairing 1,400 kilometres of roads on a war footing, and the timelines for repairing roads under the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) have been set for October 30. Last week, we held a review meeting with the MCD, where it was agreed that the civic agency would repair potholes on its damaged roads,” she said.

“To control road dust beyond just repairs, ASGs will be deployed this season. In today’s meeting, CM Atishi gave directions to the PWD to deploy 200 ASGs on its roads and major pollution hotspots. In line with this, DMRC will deploy 80 ASGs—some static and others mobile—at construction sites. MCD will deploy 30 ASGs, and NCRTC, which is handling the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) construction, will deploy 14 ASGs,” Atishi added.

Dust Pollution

According to a study conducted by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) in 2019, road dust is the largest contributor to PM10, with its contribution ranging from 35.6% to 65.9% in Delhi.

Bhavreen Khandari, an expert on waste management and air pollution, said, “Dust pollution is a year-round issue, largely driven by construction activities that release PM10. This type of pollution requires constant attention and enforcement of guidelines, such as covering construction sites and implementing greening initiatives to curb the spread of dust throughout the year. Most of this is being implemented only in the city centre or South Delhi.”

“As one goes farther, there is no check throughout the year. Fining violators only in this month or two isn’t sufficient. Also, the current pressing concern in Delhi NCR is the high levels of PM2.5, which pose a more immediate health risk due to their smaller size and ability to penetrate deep into the lungs. PM2.5 levels surge during the colder months, largely due to vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and seasonal factors like stubble burning,” she asserted.

“These particles are far more harmful than PM10 because they can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues. While dust pollution from construction remains a problem, efforts to curb PM2.5 need to be prioritised right now. Stricter emission controls, better enforcement against stubble burning with support for farmers, and increased availability and use of public transport are critical measures to address this immediate threat,” Bhavreen added.

Impact On Health

Dr Neetu Jain, Senior Consultant in Pulmonology, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital, shed light on the major health concerns caused by dust pollution exposure.

“Everybody comes into contact with dust in one way or another. When dust particles are small enough or present in large enough quantities, the human body’s defence systems against dust can sometimes be overpowered. The degree to which dust is hazardous to human health depends on the kind and size of dust particles. Important considerations also include the duration of your exposure to dust and the potential level of dust in the air,” she said.

Dr Neetu explained that the size of dust particles significantly affects human health. Dust can contain liquid droplets or tiny particulates that are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to serious health issues. Larger particles can irritate the eyes, throat, and nose.

She highlighted that the severity of health impacts, particularly on the heart and lungs, is determined by the particle size, as smaller particles can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. Particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 micrometres (PM10) can cause serious negative health effects in vulnerable individuals when present in high concentrations.

She further added that there is strong evidence of long-term health impacts from PM2.5 particles, including ultrafine particles, which are especially harmful. These particles can be produced by industries such as diesel engines and foundries, making their regulation crucial for public health.

“Furthermore, dust particles that are tiny enough to be inhaled can cause asthma episodes, hay fever, coughing, sneezing, and eye discomfort. Even slight increases in dust concentration can exacerbate symptoms for those suffering from respiratory diseases such as emphysema, asthma, or chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD),” she stated.

“Additionally, health problems may also result from naturally occurring particles. These include microorganisms like fungi, pollen, and, in certain cases, bacteria and viruses,” Dr Neetu further added.

Other Measures

On September 20, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena directed several agencies, including the MCD, the PWD, the NDMC, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FCD), and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), to initiate a 10-day ‘Dust-Free Delhi Drive’ aimed at reducing air pollution in the city.

According to Raj Niwas officials, Saxena suggested that the initiative be expanded into a year-long effort to effectively address pollution concerns. He instructed the MCD and PWD, as the primary road-owning authorities, to ensure the removal of dust from roads and transport it to designated disposal sites. Additionally, the MCD, I&FCD, and DJB were asked to work together to clear the mud and silt that had built up on roads after the extended rainy season.