Air quality in Bahadurgarh

What is the current level of air pollution in Bahadurgarh?

Bahadurgarh city located in Jhajjar, a district in the state of Haryana, India. It is approximately 30 kilometres from New Delhi. According to a census conducted in 2011, Bahadurgarh had an estimated population of 171,000 people. It is a major industrial hub which has developed over 200 hectares and a further 250 hectares is due to be developed by Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation for Industrial purposes.

Looking back at the figures for 2020 as published by the Swiss company IQAir.com, Bahadurgarh was experiencing a period of “Unhealthy” air with a US AQI reading of 153. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using the levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants, which are, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, being PM2.5 and PM10. It can be used as a standard when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what figures there are. In the case of Bahadurgarh both PM2.5 and PM10 were recorded. The figures were 58.8 µg/m³ and 81 µg/m³, respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a recommended level of 10 µg/m³, so with this figure, it is at a very extreme level being over five times their recommended limit, although no amount of air pollution is classed as being safe.

With pollution at this elevated level, the given advice would be to stay inside and close all windows and doors to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. An air purifier would be beneficial if one is available, but adjust the settings to recirculate the air and not introduce more from outside. Avoid exercising outside until the quality improves and if venturing outside is unavoidable, then the wearing of a good quality face mask is essential. The table that is published at the top of this page should help with that decision or download the AirVisual app for constant updates as to the state of the air in real-time.

Does the level of air pollution in Bahadurgarh vary much throughout the year?

Even though there were no specific records held for Bahadurgarh in 2020, the first thirteen cities in the state of Haryana recorded annual average results of “Unhealthy” air with figures between 55.5 and 150.4 µg/m³. The next eight cities returned figures between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³ which classified them as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Most of the cities seem to constantly experience unhealthy air for the majority of the time.

What are the main sources of air pollution in Bahadurgarh?

Stringent measures against air pollution came into effect towards the end of 2019, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) said that local sources of pollution in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are responsible for the poor air quality.

Discouraging private vehicles within the city centre, banning the use of diesel generators, brick kilns and stone crushers are amongst the measures being instigated to try to improve the air quality in Bahadurgarh and also in Delhi itself.

It was reported that littering and dust, as well as open burning of rubber scraps and plastics, are the main cause of concern. Stubble burning in neighbouring states was also blamed for the deteriorating air quality in the city, but this statement was challenged as being untrue. It was claimed that biomass burning accounted for just 10 per cent of the air pollution and that the other 90 per cent came from elsewhere.

Is was noted that illegal warehouses or godowns had been built on agricultural land in the Bahadurgarh district near Tikri Kalan. They were accused of burning garbage that cannot be recycled.

The level of pollution in the city is continuously increasing. Smoke emanating from the chimneys of factories in the area is making people sick. People here are very upset due to the smoke coming out of a factory located opposite the main gate of Omaxe. On the other hand, officials of the Pollution Control Board say that complaints have been received from people against this company. This is also being investigated. Pollution department has started action against illegal factories.

The Aaradhya Polikot factory operates on the Delhi-Rohtak road opposite the gate of Omaxe. Chemicals are used heavily in it. This causes air pollution. The smoke coming out of the factory chimney is completely black and it is polluting the air by dissolving in the air. Due to this, two thousand people living in Omaxe are suffering.

Can anything be done to improve the air quality in Bahadurgarh?

Earlier this year, the level of air pollution had reached 166 micrograms in Bahadurgarh due to the intense burning of crop residue in the surrounding area. This level is considered to be dangerous to those of a sensitive disposition. The air quality index in Haryana had improved due to the closure of industries due to the lockdown, but as the crop residues are being burnt, the air quality index level is increasing.

The measures to be followed in "emergency" situation include stopping the entry of trucks in Delhi, ban on construction and introduction of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

What are the detrimental effects of air pollution in Bahadurgarh on our health?

Air pollution has a bad effect on physical and psychological health. Pollution causes damage to many parts of the body. Air pollution aggravates respiratory diseases such as COPD. Bronchial asthma takes a severe form due to air pollution. Apart from this, fatigue, headache and anxiety, irritation in eyes, nose, throat, damage to the nervous system, have a bad effect on the cardiovascular system.

According to a recent estimate, "air pollution" kills nine million people worldwide each year. The main causes of which are heart attack, severe brain diseases, lung diseases and cancer. Air pollution is caused by harmful chemical (natural and man-made), biological (bio-aerosols) and some particulate matter, which harms humans and other organisms, as well as the natural environment of the atmosphere. While some sources of air pollution are natural such as volcanic eruptions, wildfires, fires, but most are man-made. Consumption of combustible fossil fuels has increased significantly with modernization, apart from man-made sources of air pollution such as deforestation, animal husbandry and agriculture.