Air quality in Guwahati

What is the air quality index of Guwahati?

Guwahati is the largest city in the state of Assam in northeast India. It was the capital city of Assam until 1972 when it was moved to Dispur. Because of its prominent location, it is often called the 'Gateway to North-East India'. Many years ago it was also known as Gauhati. The estimated population of its metropolitan area was 1.1 million people in 2020. Due to it being a popular destination for those seeking work and/or education, this figure is set to rise to 1.5 million by 2035.

At the beginning of 2021, Guwahati was experiencing a period of poor air quality with a US AQI index of 179 which classifies it as “Unhealthy” according to recommended figures by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The concentration of the pollutant PM2.6 was recorded as 109.2 µg/m³, (microns per cubic metre).

What is the main source of Guwahati’s polluted air?

Air pollution is called adulteration of pollutants in the air which is considered to be harmful to human health and for the planet. There are two main sources of air pollution: natural and human resources.Pollution caused by human activity is being caused by the export of materials from developed countries, by industries, factories, transport, domestic works, agricultural work, thermal power plants, hazardous air pollutants, greenhouse gases, mining, chemical materials and solvents.

There are many sources in nature that pollute the atmosphere. These include volcanic activity, forest fires and organic waste. Lava, pieces of rock, water vapour, ash, various gases, etc. emitted during volcanic eruptions contaminate the atmosphere. Due to forest fires, ash, smoke and gases are released which pollute the air. These fires are often started naturally by lightning strikes.

In a country like India, the rate at which population is increasing is one of the biggest indicators of an increase in air pollution. The biggest reason behind this is the indiscriminate use of natural resources. Formerly, this problem was confined to the cities, but now this problem is spreading to the villages and the countryside. Industrialisation has also increased tremendously due to the increasing population. Toxic air from the industry has contaminated the air due to providing employment to the people.

Due to increasing population, various means of communication are increasing exponentially. The number of engines, buses, aircraft, scooters etc. is increasing very rapidly due to an increase in wealth. All these vehicles are constantly creating imbalances in the atmosphere with their emissions.

Does air pollution in Guwahati differ throughout the year?

In terms of air pollution, the month of August was very good in and around the capital Delhi, while November was very bad. In November, the pollution caused by vehicle emissions, industrial units and stubble jointly became life-threatening for the people of the capital.

A study was conducted on the air pollution level of the capital throughout November and it was revealed many new things based on the data. This study found that air pollution reached a minimum during the long lockdown, but this level could not be maintained as soon as the winter season started in November. General pollution throughout the year reached a severe level in November. It is possible to control air pollution only by making stringent rules on clean fuel use in vehicles, industrial units, power generation plants and waste management.

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

During the religious festival of Diwali, it is tradition to set off firecrackers which surprisingly produce a large amount of pollution. The use of these is very often banned now by the Indian government in a bid to reduce air pollution at that time of year. The order states that from midnight of 9^th November 2020 to midnight of 30^th November 2020, there will be a ban on the sale and use of all types of firecrackers in Guwahati City.

The ban of burning straw in the rural areas surrounding Guwahati would also help but alternative methods of getting rid of the straw and preparing the land for the next crop can be expensive so it remains unpopular. The use of dried dung cakes as a source of domestic fuel needs to be addressed. This will be difficult as they are very cheap to source and surprisingly efficient. They are readily available and have been used by generations.

For rural households to stop using dung cakes, the government would have to subsidise the changeover to cleaner fuels such as LPG or electricity. Unfortunately, both these fuel sources need considerable initial financial outlay.

Indiscriminate uncontrolled felling of forests should be stopped. Humans, along with the government and voluntary organisations should stop the destruction of forests and participate in a reforestation program. Factories should be confined to industrial zones set well away from urban areas, as well as being compelled to use technology so that the majority of the smoke is cleaned and residual substances and gases will not be released into the atmosphere.

What are the health risks associated with Guwahati’s poor quality air?

Air pollution from particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 is mainly the result of the burning of fossil fuels. It is thought of as the deadliest form of air pollution worldwide. The Air Quality Life Index indicates that particulate matter concentration is the average life expectancy of all women, men and children around the world when living within the limits considered safe by the World Health Organisation (WHO). That is, on an average, the number of years it is likely to survive, decreases by about 2 years due to air pollution from particulate matter. This loss of life potential is more devastating than communicable diseases such as TB or HIV/AIDS, behavioural habits such as cigarette smoking, and even war. It has more impact on some regions of the world than other regions. In the United States, where pollution is less, it reduces life potential by only 0.1 years from the World Health Organisation guidelines. But in China and India, where pollution is high, the average life expectancy will be increased to 2.9 years and 4.3 years, respectively, by reducing the concentration of particulate matter to the level of the World Health Organisation guidelines.