Air as an electoral issue

Cyclones in Odisha, landslides in Uttarakhand, floods in Assam, pollution in Delhi.

- DEVANGSHU DATTA

These are seasonal phenomena Indians live with. But unlike floodsand cyclones, pollution in Delhi — and more broadly across North India — is entirely caused by human activity. By the inverse logic, it is possible that it could be vastly mitigated by effective intervention.Any resident of North India is aware that air pollution has got worse over the decades and it “should” be possible to identify the causative variables and to formulate effective policy to reverse it. Indeed, it isn’t hard to identify the causes.

India runs on thermal power generated by burning fossil fuels. As incomes have risen, so has vehicular traffic, which is also largely powered by fossil fuels. Switching to electric vehicles (EVs) won't make too much of a difference, unless the share of thermal is reduced in the energy mix.

Industrial activity further contributes to poor AQI (air quality index). Farmers burn stubble because it’s the cheapest way to clear fields for replanting. Construction is another creator of particulate pollution, and construction sees a seasonal surge after monsoons. Diwali causes another surge in pollution. When temperatures drop, inversions leads to worsening AQI. It doesn’t rain much in winter so the air doesn’t clear either.