“Delhi’s air pollution nightmare: no answers in sight!” | (दिल्ली में, वायु प्रदूषण का एक और दुःस्वप्न जिसका कोई जवाब नहीं )

Main Points In Hindi (मुख्य बातें – हिंदी में)

यहां दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण के मुद्दे पर उठाए गए प्रमुख बिंदु हैं:

1. वायु गुणवत्ता माप: दिल्ली में वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक मंगलवार को 485 था, जो स्वस्थ सांस लेने के लिए लगभग पांच गुना अधिक है। एक दिन पहले, यह 1,785 तक पहुंच गया था।

2. स्वास्थ्य प्रभाव और नागरिकों की चिंताएँ: निवासी विक्रम सिंह ने आंखों में जलन और जल्दी थकावट का अनुभव बताया। प्रदूषण विशेष रूप से गरीब और कामकाजी नागरिकों के लिए समस्या बन रहा है, जिनके लिए घर में रहना आर्थिक रूप से संभव नहीं है।

3. राजनीतिक और आपातकालीन उपाय: दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री ने प्रदूषण को "चिकित्सा आपातकाल" घोषित किया है। सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने राष्ट्रीय सरकार को प्रदूषण कम करने के लिए विशेष कदम उठाने का निर्देश दिया है, जिसमें निर्माण कार्य को रोकना और स्कूलों को बंद करने का आदेश शामिल है।

4. प्रदूषण के स्रोत: प्रदूषण का मुख्य कारण तापमान में गिरावट है, जो प्रदूषकों को जमीनी स्तर पर फंसा देता है। कृषि से निकले धुएं, दिवाली के पटाखों का धुआं और खाना पकाने के लिए छोटी आगें भी प्रदूषण में योगदान देती हैं।

5. शोध की कमी: वैज्ञानिक समुदाय ने प्रदूषण के स्वास्थ्य प्रभावों की अच्छी समझ के लिए अधिक अध्ययन की आवश्यकता बताई है। वर्तमान में, कार्डियोवैस्कुलर और अन्य स्वास्थ्य मुद्दों पर कोई महत्वपूर्ण अध्ययन नहीं हुए हैं, जिससे नकारात्मक स्वास्थ्य प्रभावों का आकलन करना कठिन हो रहा है।

Main Points In English(मुख्य बातें – अंग्रेज़ी में)

Here are the main points from the article regarding air pollution in Delhi:

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1. Severe Air Quality Levels: On a recent Tuesday, Delhi’s air quality index was recorded at a hazardous 485, which is about five times higher than what is considered safe for breathing. This marked an improvement from the previous day’s shocking level of 1,785.

2. Public Health Crisis: The pollution has led to widespread health complaints among residents, with symptoms like eye irritation and fatigue reported. The situation is dire enough that the Chief Minister of Delhi declared a "medical emergency," particularly endangering children and the elderly.

3. Emergency Measures and Political Responses: To combat the alarming air quality, the Supreme Court reprimanded the national government for its slow response and ordered immediate actions, including halting construction activities and limiting vehicle access. Schools were closed indefinitely for student safety.

4. Widespread Impact on Livelihoods: The pollution’s effects are disproportionately felt by the poor and those working in outdoor conditions, as many cannot afford to stay home and are forced to work despite health risks.

5. Underlying Issues and Causes: The article discusses the underlying causes of the pollution crisis, including thermal inversion during winter months, crop burning, and vehicle emissions. Political blame shifts among leaders continue as they grapple with long-standing issues exacerbated by weather conditions and inadequate government responses.

These points underscore the multifaceted nature of the air pollution crisis that Delhi faces, affecting both public health and economic stability.

Complete News In Hindi(पूरी खबर – हिंदी में)

Complete News In English(पूरी खबर – अंग्रेज़ी में)

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Air Quality Crisis in Delhi: A Look at the Current Situation

New Delhi – On Tuesday morning, the air quality index in the capital reached 485, which is nearly five times higher than what is considered safe for breathing. This was a slight improvement compared to the previous day’s alarming level of 1,785. While fine particulate matter continues to pose a risk to lungs and arteries, people could finally see sunlight and smell their surroundings.

Vikram Singh, a 58-year-old auto-rickshaw driver from central Delhi, expressed concern about the pollution, saying, "My eyes burn from the pollution." He also noted he is feeling exhausted more quickly and is unsure about what is happening to his health. Furthermore, his daily earnings have dropped from approximately $8.30 to around $6.

Each year, this severe haze arrives with the cooler temperatures of winter, as northern India’s plains shed their intense heat. Politicians often respond with emergency measures to mitigate the situation. However, the country seems unable to address this public health crisis effectively, as leaders often engage in blame games instead of finding solutions.

This week, the smog was so severe that Delhi’s Chief Minister, known as Atishi, declared a "medical emergency" due to the danger it poses to children and the elderly. The Supreme Court reprimanded the national government for its slow response and ordered specific actions, including halting construction and limiting vehicle movement on the roads. Schools were closed indefinitely to protect students.

For many middle-class residents, the emergency measures felt reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdown, with familiar routines of working from home, children being kept inside, and masks being pulled out from drawers.

However, only a small fraction of Delhi’s population can afford the luxury of staying indoors. Debu Jyoti Dey, a finance director at a nonprofit in the development sector, covered his mouth with a handkerchief while walking between the metro station and his office. He acknowledged that at least he was heading indoors.

"I feel tightness in my chest, sneezing, and sometimes I even feel sleepy," he said. Yet he pointed out that those working outside, like drivers, street vendors, and laborers, face much more severe issues. "How will I earn my livelihood if I stay at home?" he asked.

Dey emphasized that the government fails to address the "root causes" of pollution because it doesn’t resonate with voters who are poor and primarily concerned with basic needs like access to free electricity and water.

He further noted that wealthier individuals can often ignore the smog, as they can stay indoors and rely on technology. The middle class, which includes people like him, are in a precarious position, but they are a smaller voting bloc, while poor communities bear the brunt of the pollution and "risk their lives as well."

Dr. Sandeep Salvi, president of the Indian Chest Society based in Pune, mentioned that those who can stay home might find some relief. If pollution levels decrease from 450 to 300, there could be "some health benefits." However, such benefits are minimal and could easily be overstated.

Salvi also suggested remaining hydrated, rinsing the nose twice daily, and keeping houseplants as measures to cope with pollution. While none of these tips could significantly impact health, they are affordable compared to high-end air filtration systems.

The immediate cause of the dense smog is the drop in temperature that creates a "thermal inversion," where warmer air traps pollutants close to the ground. This is compounded by additional sources of microscopic dirt, such as small fires for cooking and heating, smoke from fireworks during Diwali, and crop stubble burning by farmers.

Atishi has accused the ruling party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of negligence regarding crop waste burning. Her smaller party governs Punjab, which often faces blame for pollution. However, she asserted that Modi’s party governs neighboring states that contribute significantly more to seasonal fires.

The scientific community is divided over the proportion of hazardous particles originating from farms. A recent analysis from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology indicated that stubble burning contributed just over 1% in October but increased to 13% by November, still less than pollution from vehicles and other sources.

According to a ranking, Delhi is not only the world’s most polluted city but also almost five times more polluted than Dhaka, the second most polluted city in Bangladesh, as highlighted by Shashi Tharoor, a bestselling author and parliament member on social platform X.

"This city is essentially unlivable from November to January and barely tolerable the rest of the year. Should it even remain the capital of the country?" he questioned.

Despite raising concerns about Delhi’s severe winter pollution nearly a decade ago, little is understood about the issue today, including its health impacts, necessitating further research.

Salvi pointed out that critical long-term studies on cardiovascular function remain absent due to their cost and time requirements. He speculated that air pollution at such high levels likely leads to increased incidents of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, but no studies have confirmed this in India.

This article was originally published in The New York Times.

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