AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA - AIR QUALITY INDEX for Lecturette in SSB

AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA: AIR QUALITY INDEX

Air pollution is a burning issue in today’s era. While the whole world faces this problem few places have had hazardous effect in recent years and India is one of them.

There are various sub- parts of this crucial topic one of which is air quality index. Now since General Knowledge and information of various socio- economic- political topics is must for SSB interview hence a brief coverage of Air quality index in India is essential. Below are some notable points related to the topic:

Air pollution, in simple words, refers to the deterioration of environment due to injection of harmful substances, particles, and molecules in air. Air pollution could lead to various diseases, allergies and climate disturbance. An important part of Air pollution is air quality index (AQI).

AQI is a means to measure how polluted the air of a particular place is. It computes the air pollutant concentration over a specified period of time through certain models or air monitor. In terms of an equation AQI= pollutant concentration+ time. Many countries calculate AQI on the account of ground level ozone, particulates, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. A rise in AQI suggests a rise in environment and health hazard.

AQI is useful for government and health agencies to communicate to the residents about the present air condition as well its forecast. The main causes of increased AQI include more air emissions due to traffic, forest fires, more consumption of electronic goods, temperature fluctuation, low wind, chemical reaction between air contaminants and hazy condition.

Talking in relation to India, the National Air Quality index developed in New Delhi on September 17, 2014. It is used by the Central Pollution Control Board as well as the State Pollution Control Board to operate National Air Monitoring Program in around 240 cities of the nation.

In India AQI is calculated under following categories: good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor, severe. The pollutants which are covered by AQI in India include: PM10, PM25, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb.

AQI has been helpful in rendering the following information:

• Each year nearly 1.5 million people in India die due to air pollution.
• India is the 5th largest country to be effected so deeply by air pollution.
• According to WHO, Delhi is the world’s most polluted city.
• Furthermore, after compiling all the data WHO declared that India has the world’s highest death rate caused by chronic respiratory disease and asthma.
• The prime reasons behind the observation include: stubble burning, vehicular emission, weather disturbance, high density, lack of infrastructure, high density, thermal power plants, construction activities, fire crackers and diesel generator.
• It requires immense effort from both individuals as well as the government to tackle this growing problem. AQI has certainly helped in making the public aware of air deterioration and it is in our hands how to benefit from this awareness.