3 in 4 Delhi NCR families already have one or more members with sore throat, cough and burning eyes; Rate stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and UP as key cause of air pollution

October 31, 2023, New Delhi: Air quality in the national capital or AQI levels has been over 300 in many parts of Delhi NCR in the past several days, even reaching ‘hazardous’ levels of over 400 in some parts of Delhi and NCR cities of Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, for last few days, greatly worrying residents. This is despite air pollution due to stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh being less this year as some farmers, according to reports, had delayed harvest because of the festivals and rains in some areas. According to data maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board, air pollution levels in Delhi is the worst since 2020.

The Delhi Government has embarked on a month-long campaign from October 20th to curb industrial pollution in the national capital as a step towards checking rising air pollution, which has been “poor” in most parts of the NCR since mid-October. Starting November 1, only electric, CNG and BS-VI compliant buses will be allowed to enter Delhi from other states. The air pollution due to vehicle emission has increased considerably, according to Delhi government.

While promising to ensure that 1,700 industries located in the capital are not violating the rule of using only natural gas, Delhi Government has urged the Central Government to ban burning of fire crackers and use of non-CNG or electric vehicles in the national capital. The Delhi Government has set up 66 teams to monitor that industrial units in the capital are not using any of the polluting fuels.

The Delhi Government claimed that all “these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region”. According to a study by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) 31% of the air pollution in the national capital is due to sources within the city and remaining is due to sources within the NCR region and nearby area. Given the challenges of getting adequate labour, besides high costs involved in hiring labour or machines, and buying diesel for harvesting and postharvest preparation for the next crop sowing, many farmers in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh continue with the practice of stubble burning which results in polluting the air in the Delhi NCR.

With hundreds of posts and comments received by LocalCircles in the last two weeks from residents of Delhi and NCR cities talking about deteriorating air quality, LocalCircles conducted its first 2023 survey to find from Delhi NCR residents how it is impacting their health and plans to cope with increasing air pollution. The survey received over 32,000 responses from Delhi NCR residents located in the cities of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. 69% respondents were men while 31% respondents were women.

75% Delhi NCR families have one or more members with sore throat, cough and burning eyes; 38% have someone with breathing difficulty

As air pollution affects those with breathing problems more, the impact can vary and may result in complications in some cases. The survey asked residents of Delhi NCR, “What all are the ailments you or members of your family in Delhi NCR are now experiencing due to the air pollution?” This query received 10,366 responses with some indicating more than one option. Majority or 75% of respondents indicated “sore throat and/ or cough and 75% indicated “burning eyes”. Among other health problems, 38% of respondents indicated “breathing difficulty/ asthma”; 38% indicated “runny nose and/or congestion”; 38% indicated “anxiety and/or difficulty in concentrating”; 25% of respondents shared “difficulty in sleeping”; and 13% shared that they or their family members have developed problem of “headache”. However, 13% of respondents stated that they have “no issues at all due to pollution”. To sum up, 75% of Delhi NCR families have one or more members with sore throat, cough and burning eyes; 38% have someone with breathing difficulty.

60% of respondents indicated that they plan to consume immunity boosting foods; 50% plan to wear anti-pollution mask to prevent breathing of polluting air

As households continue to invest in air purifiers and try to limit travel during peak hours, the survey asked Delhi NCR residents on its platform “How do you and your family plan to cope with the poor air quality in the coming months?” Out of 9,735 Delhi NCR residents who responded to the survey query, 60% indicated that they plan to consume immunity boosting foods, while 50% plan to wear anti-pollution masks to prevent breathing of polluting air which can cause great health problems, particularly to those with breathing issues. The survey data shows that 10% of respondents plan to use (1) “anti-pollution mask”; 30% indicated that they plan to (3) “increase consumption of immunity boosting foods”; 10% of respondents indicated 1 and 2 (use air purifiers at home); while 10% indicated 1 and 3; another 20% indicated 1,2 and 3; and remaining 20% of respondents stated that they “do not plan to do anything”.

The survey data shows that 1 in 2 Delhi NCR residents surveyed are likely to use an anti-pollution face mask, while 60% of those surveyed indicated that they plan to increase consumption of immunity boosting foods and 30% of respondents plan to use air purifiers at home.

76% of Delhi NCR residents surveyed rate stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and UP as the key cause of air pollution in Delhi

As the authorities try to pass the buck and explore various measures to check air pollution in Delhi NCR, the survey next asked respondents, “What all according to you are the key causes of air pollution in Delhi and NCR this year?” This query received 12,067 responses with some indicating more than one reason. Key cause of high air pollution was attributed by 76% of the respondents to “stubble burning by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and UP”; 71% of respondents attributed it to “manual road sweeping”; 59% to “industrial and power plant emissions”; 59% to “road and construction dust”; 53% to “motor vehicle emissions”; 53% to “diesel generator emissions”; 47% to “waste burning” and 6% of respondents opted for “can’t say”. To sum it, 76% of Delhi NCR residents surveyed rate stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and UP as the key cause of air pollution in Delhi; Manual road sweeping, road and construction dust, power plant emissions are blamed as other key causes contributing to high air pollution.

To summarize, 75% of Delhi NCR families have one or more members with sore throat, cough and burning eyes; 38% have someone with breathing difficulty due to rising air pollution levels besides other health problems due high air pollution. Among the reasons for the high air pollution, 76% of Delhi NCR residents surveyed rate stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and UP as the key cause of air pollution in Delhi; Manual road sweeping, road and construction dust, power plant emissions are blamed as other key causes contributing to the problem, which has made Delhi one of the most polluted cities in the world. To combat the problem, 60% of Delhi NCR residents surveyed indicated that they plan to consume immunity boosting foods, while 50% plan to wear anti-pollution masks to prevent breathing of polluting air which can cause great health problems. There is a section of Delhi NCR residents who have already over the years or are planning to invest in air purifiers for use at home.

The Government of Delhi and Punjab had to work together to find a solution to the issue of stubble burning as promised in early 2022 and they may have but the results are not visible to residents of Delhi NCR. Residents of Delhi and NCR are hoping that the Government in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will deploy all resources and enforcement possible to stop stubble burning. Also, they hope that Delhi and NCR administrations will enforce diligently on emissions, stop waste burning which is rampant at night and early morning due to low temperatures. Also, most residents are keen that children are not subjected to this toxic air by substituting in person classes with online classes any time AQI levels reach hazardous levels. The discontent of Delhi NCR residents towards their administrators on the issue of handling air pollution continues as they struggle to breathe year after year for 10 years now.