Dense smog engulfed over the Signature Bridge with the Air air pollution stage remaining at Severe Category in New Delhi on Thursday, November 09, 2023.
| Photo Credit: R V MOORTHY
Toxic ranges of air air pollution are disrupting the lives of tens of millions of individuals in South Asia forcing closure of colleges, impacting sporting occasions and leaving governments urging folks to remain in doorways to keep away from well being issues.
The worsening air air pollution is an annual drawback for South Asian nations as winter approaches and chilly, heavy air traps air pollution in a thick layer of smog.
South Asia has grow to be the worldwide hotspot for air air pollution, with research discovering 4 of the world’s most polluted international locations and 9 of the ten most polluted cities within the area.
WHY IS POLLUTION IN SOUTH ASIA WORSE THAN OTHER PLACES?
Countries in South Asia have seen a marked elevated in industrialisation, financial growth, and inhabitants development over the previous twenty years, resulting in elevated demand for vitality and fossil fuels.
While sources like industries and autos have an effect on most international locations, there are specific main contributors which are distinctive to South Asia, together with strong gasoline combustion for cooking and heating, human cremation, and burning of agricultural waste.
About 38% of the air pollution in New Delhi this yr, for instance, has been attributable to stubble burning – a observe the place stubble left after harvesting rice is burnt to clear fields – within the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
An enhance within the variety of autos on roads because the area has developed has additionally exacerbated the air pollution drawback. In India and Pakistan, for instance, the variety of autos has elevated four-fold because the early 2000s.
New Delhi, ranked the world’s most polluted capital for 4 years in a row by Swiss Group IQAir, has 472 autos per thousand inhabitants, based on authorities knowledge, with virtually eight million autos plying on its roads as of 2022.
WHY ARE EFFORTS TO REDUCE POLLUTION NOT WORKING?
Although South Asian international locations have began making an attempt to curb air pollution, placing collectively air high quality administration plans, putting in extra air pollution displays, and pushing for a change to cleaner fuels, these are but to yield important outcomes.
Experts say that the issue lies in a scarcity of coordination on air pollution management efforts between the international locations.
Dust particles can journey lots of of kilometres, research say, transcending nationwide boundaries and impacting international locations apart from these wherein they originate.
About 30% of the air pollution in Bangladesh’s largest cities, for instance, originates in India and is transported to the nation by the wind transferring from northwest to southeast.
Country-wide or city-wide measures to curb poisonous air, therefore, have restricted effectiveness.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
Countries throughout South Asia must coordinate efforts if the area’s air pollution drawback is to be solved, collaborating to reinforce monitoring and make coverage selections. At the identical time, these region-wide efforts must be balanced by moulding options to swimsuit native circumstances the place wanted.
In addition, the main target may also need to be broadened to incorporate sectors which have acquired restricted consideration to date, equivalent to agriculture and waste administration.
To curb stubble burning, for instance, governments can supply subsidies on higher harvesting machines. Countries like India have already began providing such incentives however demand for such machines has been restricted on account of their excessive buy value and excessive ready time for individuals who wish to hire them.
Source: www.thehindu.com
