Accelerating EV adoption key to improving air quality
New Delhi: As the monsoon recedes, a familiar chill settles over northern India, heralding the festive spirit of winter and a concerning rise in air pollution. This annual tale of festivities intertwined with hazardous air quality has become a public health emergency, not just in Delhi NCR but across numerous Indian cities.
Despite numerous Indian cities. Despite numerous measures rolled out every year, the air remains choked with toxins, particularly during the winter months.
Recent data paints a grim picture — Hubli in Karnataka has emerged as India’s most polluted city, with smaller towns like Panaji (Goa), Bahraich (UP), Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Gorakhpur (UP), Belgaum (Karnataka), and Kharagpur (West Bengal), also ranking among the top 10.
Worryingly, India's current PM2.5 concentration is 2.5 times above the recommended limits set by the WHO. Presently, India holds the grim distinction of being the third most polluted country globally, with 42 out of the 50 most polluted cities in the world located within its borders.
On its part, the Delhi government has announced a 21-point ‘Winter Action Plan’, which includes urging residents to work from home to reduce traffic, deploying drones to monitor air pollution sources, creating artificial rain, and implementing the oft-criticised Odd Even Scheme to limit private car usage during peak pollution months.
However, history shows that such measures are unlikely to deliver meaningful improvements in air quality.
Clearly, it’s time for a proactive stance on transport emissions and here India can take a cue from China’s aggressive stance.