Air quality in Ambala

What is the state of air pollution in Ambala city?

Ambala is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India. It is situated on the border with the Punjab. Both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have barracks here. In 2011 the estimated population was approximately 208,000 people. Ambala is surrounded by a complex river network, the Ganges, the Indus, the Ghaggar and the Tangri rivers.

In the second quarter of 2021, Ambala was experiencing a period of “Unhealthy” air with a US AQI number of 153. This is according to the classifications suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The recorded concentration of the pollutant PM2.5 was 58.7 µg/m³. The figure quoted is in microns/micrograms per cubic meter.

With the level being this high, it is advisable to close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of dirty air into the rooms. Everybody should avoid outdoor exercise until the air quality improves. Those of a sensitive disposition should wear a good quality face mask if they need to venture outside. But it would be better not to risk this and postpone the need to go out until later.

Does the level of air pollution change during the year?

The state of air pollution can be very volatile and can change within the day, so it stands to reason that it changes throughout the year.

On studying the figures from 2020 on the IQAir website, the air pollution in Ambala falls into two distinct periods of time. The six month period from September until the end of February then March until the end of August.

During the autumn and winter months, the air quality was “Unhealthy” with levels of between 55.5 and 150.4 µg/m³. During the spring and summer months, the quality was better with figures between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³ which classifies it as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”.

Looking back at the figures from previous years it can be seen that the air quality is improving. In 2019 the reading was 63 µg/m³ whereas in 2020 it was 58 µg/m³. These are the annual average figures.

Where does the air pollution come from in Ambala?

Increasing pollution with cold is a serious problem. The environment is getting worse day by day. The climate is becoming increasingly toxic. It has also become difficult to breathe. Air pollution is continuously increasing in the state and has reached alarming levels in most places. At the beginning of November last year, Ambala had become the most polluted city in the country. The AQI of Ambala had reached 452. Due to the effects of pollution, fever, cough and cold were increasing. About 300 patients with sore throats, fevers, coughs and cold are reaching the outpatient’s department of the hospital every day.

The amount of all types of gases in the atmosphere is fixed. The effect of air pollution is immediately visible as compared to other pollutants. If there is poisonous gas dissolved in the air, then it shows its effect immediately and it does not take long to make the surrounding animals and animals sick. Ambala is not untouched by this. The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is decreasing due to the continuously decreasing forest. Due to this, the balance of fauna is also deteriorating. Trees protect the top layer of the land from blowing away in the wind and landing in the water and therefore the land remains fertile. Deforestation deteriorates the balance of nature. Changes in the balance of nature are the major cause of environmental pollution.

The burning of stubble in the surrounding countryside produces a huge amount of air pollution but it is looked on as a cheap way of preparing the ground for next season’s crop. One solution to this problem is being tried in some Indian states. The government buys the organic residue and has it manufactured into briquettes. Thermal power stations can burn up to 10-20 per cent of these together with coal. If local villagers knew there was a market for the briquettes they could start cottage industries and make them instead of just burning the waste to get rid of it. This would provide some additional income to the farmers and also help reduce the huge amount of air pollution which stubble-burning causes. Less coal would also be burnt which in itself would be a good thing.

Dried animal dung when used as household fuel is another major source of air pollution. This is particularly bad as it is often burned in unventilated rooms where the young children often join mum as she prepares and cooks the meals.

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

India has so many industries and power plants where the contaminated smoke of emissions is full of toxins. Not all chimneys have an effective filtration system fitted, even though this can be retrofitted, many companies blame the expense and do nothing about it.

An ever-growing population needs to have private vehicles for their convenience but this is not conducive to cleaner air in the cities. Very often the types of public transport used is very old and is powered by old diesel engines. Electric vehicles can be very expensive compared to an old imported car that is maybe 15 years old. Because of the age, it does not have modern technology behind it and therefore is more polluting than a modern vehicle.

Statistics show that even after the latest decision of the Supreme Court, 75 per cent of the coal power plants in the country will not be able to install sulphur controlling technology by 2022.

How detrimental to health is polluted air?

The situation of air pollution in countries such as India and Bangladesh is so severe that in some areas, due to this, the average life span of people is decreasing by a decade. Researchers have said that the quality of the air that people breathe in many places poses a far greater threat to human health than COVID-19.

Nearly a quarter of the world's population lives in only four South Asian countries which are among the most polluted countries, these are Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. AQLI found that the life span of the people living in these countries will decrease by an average of five years, as they are living in a situation in which the pollution level is now 44 per cent higher than it was 20 years ago.

It is said that particulate pollution is also a "serious concern" throughout Southeast Asia, as forests and farm fires in these areas combine with the emissions emanating from traffic and power plants, making the air poisonous.