Air Pollution in Delhi: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

This report presents a comprehensive case study on air pollution in Delhi, India. It begins with an abstract highlighting the severity of the issue, emphasizing the city's high population density and the consequent environmental challenges. The introduction provides context, citing statistics on mortality rates due to air pollution and the city's ranking as one of the most polluted globally. The methodology section describes the use of secondary data collection methods, drawing from online journal articles and websites. The case study delves into the historical background, detailing the post-Diwali pollution spikes and the high Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. The current state of the problem is examined, linking population growth to pollution levels and highlighting the unhealthy AQI values. The report further explores the future consequences of air pollution, including its impact on public health, resource depletion, and economic development. The conclusion emphasizes the need for pollution control measures to safeguard the future. Recommendations are provided, including carpooling, promoting public transport, adopting solar power, and maintaining road infrastructure. The report concludes with a list of references used for research.

ANIS

Table of Contents
1. ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................1
2. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................2
3. METHOD....................................................................................................................................3
4. CASE STUDY.............................................................................................................................4
4.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE...............................................................4
4.2 CURRENT STATE OF THE PROBLEM............................................................................5
4.3 FUTURE CONSEQUENCES...............................................................................................6
5. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................7
6. RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................8
7. REFERENCES............................................................................................................................9
1

1. ABSTRACT
India is one of the most populous countries of the world after China with around 1.32 billion
people. The rapid growth in population is not only creates various economic and social issues
rather it also effects the natural environment by pollution. The main impact of overpopulation
reflects on the atmosphere in the form of various types of pollutions such as air pollution, water
pollution, and soil pollution etc. However, one of the dangerous and most impactful is air
pollution that is affecting the life of people in Delhi (Capital of India) city. The air pollution
reflects on the environment and health of citizens of Delhi that making the life difficult and
dangerous. India loose approximately 1.5 million people per year due to heart and lungs diseases
caused due to air pollution. Pollution is Delhi is one of the dangerous issues that affect the health
of large number of people. The major cause of pollution is increasing number of population and
increasing numbers of vehicles that people uses on the road. The emission rate from vehicles is
the major concern for the public health in the Delhi city.
2

2. INTRODUCTION
Air pollution relates to the emission of harmful pollutants in the air that is detrimental to the
environment and human beings due to the emissions of chemicals affecting the lifestyle of
people in India. Research shows that, 1.5 million people are dying because of air pollution in
India and Delhi which is considered as the most polluted city of India (Times of India, 2019).
The research will contribute in analyzing the impact of air pollution on the atmosphere; budget
and culture of India, as well as providing the details regarding the factors causing air pollution in
Delhi and the ways to reduce the issue for future progress. The research is conducted for
analyzing, collecting and measuring the data that will contribute in analyzing the reasons of air
pollution, influence of air pollution and methods that contribute in air pollution reduction
(Morgan, 2019).
3

3. METHOD
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
The data collection method considers to kinds of method named as the primary and secondary
data collection method (Ness, 2015). Under this study, the researcher has practiced the secondary
data collection method which has been gathered by entailing many sources such as online journal
articles and websites.
4

4. CASE STUDY
The case study will benefit the research by collecting information regarding air pollution in
Delhi. The study shows details about the historical background, the current situation of the city
and future consequences of air contamination on Delhi. The analysis and evaluation of the case
study is as follows-
4.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE
Delhi is the capital and second-largest city of India. The city contains the majority of the
population around 1.9 crores that influence many factors that are significant for growth and life
on earth. In the year 2017, after the celebration of Diwali festival, Delhi is converted in one of
the most pollutant city of India due to the emissions of smoke and dust (Irfan, 2017). In
November 2017, the air quality index recorded by most of the monitoring stations is above 999
that shows the pollution level in Delhi. Due to high chemical emissions and smoke Delhi has
emerges as most polluted city on the globe (Irfan, 2017).
Graph shows the Air quality index of November 8, 2017 that measured 1010 air quality which is
above the worst pollution limit and contributed in considering Delhi as a most polluted city on
earth (Irfan, 2017).
4.2 CURRENT STATE OF THE PROBLEM
India is situated in South Asia and is considered the second-most populous nation in the
biosphere with an estimate of 1.32 million people based on the recent data and is growing rapidly
with the average growth rate of 1.2% annually. Delhi is the capital and second-largest city of
India with a population of 1.9 crores (World Meter, 2019). The rapid growth in population is
considered as one of the major reasons for air contamination in India. Delhi is considered as a
most polluted city of India with the Air quality index in between 100 to 300. The AQI above 100
is not satisfactory and thus, Delhi needs to adopt changes for air pollution control (AQI, 2019).
As per the report of 2018, the Air quality index reported is 175 which are unhealthy for the
surroundings of Delhi as well as for the peoples. The report brings information regarding the air
pollution, reasons of air pollution, effect of air pollution and techniques that help in reducing air
pollution in Delhi (AQI, 2019).
5

4.3 FUTURE CONSEQUENCES
Air pollution in Delhi is increasing day by day that is affecting the lifestyle of people and
environment that hurts the budget, principles and growth of the country. The increment in air
pollution causing health-related problems to the people that impacting the current generation and
increasing the deaths rates in Delhi that impact the economy and culture (Mackenzie, 2016). India
loose approximately 1.5 million people per year due to heart and lungs diseases caused due to air
pollution (World Population, 2019). Consumption of natural resources such as petrol, diesel and
fuels is increasing the pollution in the air and decreasing the number of resources for future use.
The air pollution is increasing health problems and consumption of resources that contribute to a
decrement in the development and success of Delhi (Mackenzie, 2016).
6

5. CONCLUSION
The air pollution not only affects the life of people rather it also affects the environment of
natural environment country. The air pollution is increasing due to industrialization and
development and has a dangerous impact on human lives. Due to running of vehicles, industries
and dust activities, Delhi is categorized as the most polluted city and became an atmosphere
destroyer and reason for death of people. The control on air pollution became necessary for Delhi
to preserve the future, which is necessary for making the situation health and hygiene for future
generation. The research will contribute to Delhi in carrying out the ways through which the air
pollution can be reduced and benefits Delhi in improving environment and budget.
7

6. RECOMMENDATIONS
Action for controlling the air pollution in Delhi is required for securing the future from the issues
and for development of the country. The recommendation will help the city in reducing and
controlling air pollution and benefit in development and progress for future generations
(Greentumble, 2019).
 Carpooling is one of the best ways for reducing air pollution as carpooling will benefit
by reducing the number of vehicles on roads by sharing common vehicles for work.
 Use of bicycles, public transport and CNG vehicles will benefit Delhi in reducing
pollution and contributes in bringing the environment fresh and ecofriendly with the
help of vehicle reduction.
 Adaptation of solar power instead of other sources in the industries can help Delhi in
reducing the smoke level and benefit in preserving the atmosphere for the future.
 Maintainance of roads for vehicles and machines in the industries contributes to
reducing smoke level as improver working of machinery produces lots of smoke and
dust.
8

REFERENCES
AQI, 2019. Delhi Air Pollution: AQI. [Online]. Available at; https://aqicn.org/city/delhi/
[Accessed:12/08/2019].
Bhat, A. [2019] Data collection [online] Available at; https://www.questionpro.com/blog/data-
collection/ [Accessed:12/08/2019].
Brara, S. A. (2018) 14 ways citizens and govt can help reduce air pollution in Delhi [online].
Available at: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/14-ways-citizens-and-govt-can-help-
reduce-air-pollution-in-delhi-62138 [Accessed:12/08/2019].
Greentumble, (2019) Ways to prevent air pollution [Online]. Available at:
https://greentumble.com/10-ways-to-prevent-air-pollution/ [Accessed:12/08/2019].
Irfan, U. (2017) How Delhi Became the most polluted city in world [online]. Available at;
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/11/22/16666808/india-air-pollution-new-
delhi [Accessed:12/08/2019].
Mackenzie, (2016) Air pollution [Online]. Available at: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-
pollution-everything-you-need-know [Accessed:12/08/2019].
Ness, L.R. (2015) Are we there yet? Data saturation in qualitative research [online]. Available
from: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://
scholar.google.co.in/&httpsredir=1&article=1049&context=sm_pubs [Accessed:12/08/2019].
Times of India (2019) Delhi Air Pollution [Online] Available at:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/delhi-air-pollution [Accessed:12/08/2019].
WorldMeter (2019) Indian Population Live [online]. Available at
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/india-population/ [Accessed:12/08/2019].
WorldPopulation (2019) World Population Review [online]. Available at:
http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/india-population/ [Accessed:12/08/2019].
9