70% India Stations Report Severe PM2.5

ACROSS INDIA, 70% OF STATIONS REPORTED ‘SEVERE’ PM2.5 READINGS

Syllabus:

GS-3:

• Environment and Ecology,
• Environmental Pollution, Air Quality Management,
• Disaster Management and Public Health.

Why in the News?

• Widespread Pollution: Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that nearly 70% of air quality monitoring stations reporting during Deepavali recorded peak PM2.5 levels in the severe category.
• National Concern: The pollution spike was not restricted to Delhi, with several States, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, reporting widespread severe readings.

EXTENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF AIR POLLUTION DURING DEEPAVALI

• Severe Readings: Of the 551 stations reporting PM2.5 during the Deepavali observation window, 375 stations (nearly 70%) recorded at least one reading of 250 µg/m³ or above.
• Comparative Increase: Only 96 stations recorded PM2.5 readings of 250 µg/m³ or above during the pre-Deepavali period, indicating a substantial increase during the festival.
• Geographical Spread: More than two-thirds of monitoring stations in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh recorded severe pollution levels.
• Urban Variation: Tier-2 cities such as Gajraula, Gwalior, Kaithal and Mandi Gobindgarh also experienced significant pollution, demonstrating that the problem extends beyond metropolitan centres.
• Regional Data Deficit: Despite having 37 monitoring stations, Tamil Nadu recorded PM2.5 data from only nine stations during the relevant Deepavali window, limiting comprehensive assessment.

PM2.5 POLLUTION AND ITS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

• Fine Particles: 5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream.
• Respiratory Disorders: Prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter increases the risk of asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory complications.
• Cardiovascular Impact:5 exposure is associated with increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, hypertension and cardiovascular mortality, particularly among vulnerable populations.
• Vulnerable Groups: Children, elderly people, pregnant women and individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions face disproportionately higher health risks.
• Economic Burden: Air pollution increases healthcare expenditure, reduces labour productivity, causes work absenteeism and imposes substantial long-term costs on public health systems.

LIMITATIONS OF AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND DATA RELIABILITY

• Monitoring Coverage: Of the CPCB network’s 634 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), only 571 stations were live and reporting during Deepavali.
• Measurement Limit: CPCB stated that particulate matter analysers were calibrated for a measurement range of 1,000 µg/m³, potentially creating data gaps when pollution exceeded this threshold.
• Automated Validation: The CPCB’s automated data validation system may reject readings outside the prescribed measurement range, making extreme pollution episodes appear as missing observations.
• Data Inconsistency: Several stations stopped reporting even when their last recorded PM2.5 values were below 500 µg/m³, raising questions about whether measurement limits fully explain the reporting gaps.
• Institutional Accountability: Reliable environmental governance requires transparent monitoring protocols, independent audits, real-time data availability and technically upgraded monitoring equipment.

DEEPAVALI FIRECRACKERS AND THE LIMITATIONS OF GREEN CRACKERS

• Emission Sources: Conventional firecrackers release fine particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other harmful pollutants, contributing to short-term deterioration in urban air quality.
• Green Crackers: Developed through CSIR-associated research, green crackers are intended to reduce particulate emissions and certain harmful chemical components compared with conventional fireworks.
• Implementation Gap: The persistence of high PM2.5 readings indicates that promoting green crackers alone may not be sufficient to prevent severe pollution episodes.
• SO2 Concerns: The article highlights that Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata have not demonstrated a consistent decline in sulphur dioxide (SO2) readings over the preceding five years.
• Regulatory Enforcement: Effective control requires monitoring manufacturing, certification, distribution and use of authorised crackers, alongside public awareness and enforcement of applicable restrictions.

MULTIPLE SOURCES AND STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

• Vehicular Emissions: Road transport contributes significantly to urban air pollution through exhaust emissions, particularly from diesel vehicles, alongside non-exhaust emissions from tyres and brakes.
• Industrial Pollution: Thermal power plants, factories, brick kilns and other industrial activities release particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, requiring stronger emission-control mechanisms.
• Construction Dust: Construction activities, road dust and poorly managed infrastructure projects contribute substantially to PM10 and PM2.5 pollution, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions.
• Agricultural Burning: Crop-residue burning in northern India contributes to seasonal particulate pollution, although its impact varies with meteorological conditions and regional emission sources.
• Meteorological Conditions: Low wind speeds, temperature inversions and reduced atmospheric mixing can trap pollutants near the surface, intensifying pollution during winter and post-festival periods.

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE

• CPCB Mandate: The Central Pollution Control Board, established under the Water Act, 1974, coordinates pollution-control activities and monitors environmental quality under relevant legislation.
• State Institutions: State Pollution Control Boards are responsible for implementing pollution-control measures, monitoring industrial emissions and enforcing environmental standards within their respective jurisdictions.
• National Programme: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce particulate pollution through city-specific action plans, monitoring expansion and coordinated interventions.
• Judicial Intervention: The Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal have played important roles in addressing air pollution through directions concerning firecrackers, industrial emissions and environmental compliance.
• Governance Coordination: Effective pollution management requires coordination among the CPCB, State Pollution Control Boards, urban local bodies, transport authorities and environmental departments.

WAY FORWARD: TOWARDS EFFECTIVE AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT

• Monitoring Expansion: India should expand the CAAQMS network, particularly in smaller cities and pollution hotspots, while ensuring adequate geographical and population coverage.
• Technical Upgradation: Monitoring stations should have improved measurement ranges, backup systems and real-time reporting mechanisms to prevent data gaps during extreme pollution episodes.
• Source Apportionment: Cities should conduct regular source-apportionment studies to identify the relative contributions of transport, industries, construction, waste burning and other pollution sources.
• Integrated Planning: Air pollution management should adopt a regional airshed approach because pollutants travel across administrative boundaries, making isolated city-level interventions insufficient.
• Public Participation: Citizen awareness, accessible pollution data, public transport adoption and community participation can strengthen compliance and promote environmentally responsible behaviour.

CONCLUSION

The Deepavali pollution data demonstrate that severe air pollution is a national environmental and public health challenge, extending beyond Delhi and major metropolitan centres. India must strengthen monitoring infrastructure, improve data transparency, control multiple emission sources and ensure coordinated institutional action. Effective air quality governance requires sustained prevention rather than temporary festival-specific interventions.

SOURCE: The Hindu

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

“The widespread occurrence of severe PM2.5 levels during Deepavali highlights the limitations of India’s existing air pollution management framework.” Examine the major sources of air pollution, assess the effectiveness of India’s monitoring and regulatory institutions, and suggest measures to strengthen air quality governance through a regional and public-health-oriented approach.