Air quality in Sonipat

What is the level of air pollution in Sonipat now?

Sonipat is a city and a municipal corporation in the Haryana state of India. It is approximately 44 kilometres from Delhi. It is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River. In 2011, a census was conducted which estimated the population to be approximately 278,000 people.

Towards the end of the first half of 2021, Sonipat was experiencing a period of “Very unhealthy” air with a US AQI reading of 266. This is an internationally recognised system that allows comparisons to be made between different cities, even if they are in different countries, they still use the same metrics. It follows the guidelines laid down by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is calculated by measuring up to six main pollutants most commonly found in polluted air. Sometimes records are not available for all six pollutants so a level has to be established using the information that is available. In Sonipat, only three of the main pollutants were recorded. These were PM2.5 - 95.7 µg/m³, PM10 - 401.3 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 10.4 µg/m³. With elevated levels such as these, it is highly recommended to stay indoors and close all doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the rooms. A good quality mask should be worn when venturing outside although prolonged periods of outdoor activity are not recommended until the air quality improves. The table at the top of this page will assist you with this choice. It is advisable to use an air purifier if one is available.

Is the level of air pollution in Sonipat the same throughout the year?

Air pollution can be very changeable and is affected by many variables. It can change throughout the course of a day depending on the prevailing winds and temperatures.

The figures for 2020 have recently been published by the Swiss air monitoring company, IQAir.com. Looking at these figures, it can be seen that the summer months of July, August and September provide the best air quality when recorded figures were between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³ which classified it as being “Moderate”. For the first six months of the year, Sonipat experienced a period when the air quality was “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with readings between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³. For the remaining months of October, November and December the air quality was at its worse when it was classified as being “Unhealthy” with figures between 55.5 and 150.4 µg/m³.

Records of air pollution were first kept in 2019 when the average annual figure was 59.2 µg/m³. The figure recorded in 2020 showed a marked improvement at 47.4 µg/m³. ³. However, because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this figure could well change over the next few months. The use of most private vehicles was prohibited and many non-essential industrial operations were suspended. This had a marked effect on air quality as can be seen in many cities throughout the world.

Where does the polluted air in Sonipat come from?

Many believe that the main source of air pollution in Sonipat is from the burning of crop residue in the surrounding countryside.

The situation is that the pollution in the air has reached this level which is not done even when the stubble is burnt. Currently, there is not a single district in Haryana where the air is breathable. The most poisonous among these is the air of Sonipat. The current situation is being blamed on a temperature inversion where the polluted air is trapped at ground-level and cannot escape by rising.

Despite the air being toxic, garbage is being burnt at various places in the city. Along with this, the smog is increasing due to the coal tar being heated in various places throughout the city due to road construction and repairs.

Schools have to be closed due to pollution. People are facing many types of pollution related diseases. AQI levels are often fatal. The impact of most government schemes is not visible on the ground. Stubble was burnt indiscriminately and the factories continued to spew contaminated smoke.

Ground-level ozone (O₃) and PM2.5 play an important role in the formation of smog. Apart from industrial activities and public transport, winter haze, stubble burning and road dust are mainly responsible for the haze.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Sonipat?

Instead of burning the stubble, the straw could be collected and used as a medium in the cultivation of mushrooms. Straw is being used in fodder for animals. Along with this, compost is being used to run boilers in food processing units. Stubble management has been encouraged and demonstrated to the farmers of Haryana. There is also a scheme where the straw is compacted into pellets and used to fuel power station boilers instead of coal. Farmers who become part of this incentive are guaranteed a good price for the briquettes and have the assurance of the local authorities that all briquettes produced will be bought by the government.

This year new traffic rules will not only apply but they will bring a big change in the transport sector across the country. These rules will apply to both private and government vehicles. While registration of government vehicles older than 15 years ended on 1^st April, private drivers will now have to be ready to pay a green tax. The Ministry has taken a major decision regarding the protection of the environment. Under this, the registration of all government vehicles over 15 years old, on 1^st April, will be cancelled from 2022 and they will be declared junk.

What effect does polluted air in Sonipat have on human health?

The vulnerable group includes new-borns and children, pregnant women, the elderly and people already suffering from health problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, diabetes and angina.

Air pollution has a bad effect on physical and psychological health. Many parts of the body can be damaged due to pollution. Air pollution causes respiratory diseases such as COPD and bronchial asthma takes extreme form. Apart from this, it causes fatigue, headache and anxiety, irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, damage to the nervous system and has a bad effect on the cardiovascular system.