Air quality in Panipat

What is the air quality index of Panipat?

Panipat is situated in Haryana in India. It is located roughly 90 kilometres north of Delhi. In 2011 the estimated population was just under 300,000 people. The city is famous throughout India because of its textile and weaving industry. As the global centre for recycling textiles, it is sometimes called the “cast-off capital”.

At the start of 2021, Panipat was experiencing some very “Unhealthy” air with a US AQI reading of 177. This is in accordance with the figures recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

With levels such as these, it is advisable to close doors and windows to prevent the ingress of dirty air. A good quality mask is to be worn when going outside but outdoor exercise is not recommended until the air quality improves. The running of an air purifier would be beneficial if one is available.

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

As well as the emissions from vehicles and coal-powered power stations, a measurable amount of air pollution in Panipat comes from burning garbage. Even though there are laws in place which prevent garbage burning, some culprits are flouting the rules and regulations by burning the garbage between 2 and 5 am. Officials have now been tasked with raiding the offending premises and taking legal action where appropriate. In just one week, raids have been conducted in 40 factories and 25 of them were found to be violating the rules. They were given cessation notices whilst a further 13 factories have been forced to close, albeit on a temporary basis.

Pollution in Delhi and the surrounding state may be harming people, but coal-fired power plants have once again failed to follow the deadline to stop emission of harmful sulphur dioxide gas. The power companies, which failed to install sulphur control technology within the timeframe set by the government, have now said that they will take about 3 more years to achieve this goal.

A total of 11 coal-fired power stations of UP, Haryana and Punjab, located in the surrounding state near Delhi, were required to apply pollution control technology known as flue gas desulphurisation or FGD to prevent sulphur dioxide emissions by 31st December 2019. But none of the power plants except a power plant in Haryana followed this order. Companies that failed to follow the rules have private power plants as well as government power plants.

Does air pollution in Panipat differ throughout the year?

The level of air pollution vastly increases at the end of each harvest. This is due to the practice of burning the residual stubble. The Air Quality Index in Panipat reached a record with a figure of 355. Ten other cities in the same state showed reading well over 300 which is categorised as being “very poor”. Very often, debris and other garbage are burnt at the same time which adds to the toxic mixture in the smoke.

The PM2.5 and PM10 particles rise into the air and float at a lower level instead of going higher.

The mayor of the city has instructed the municipal authorities to form teams and take action against those who are setting the fires. It has also been suggested to spray the foliage and the roadside to prevent dust rising when the ground is at its driest. All forms of construction work have been suspended for the time being.

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

A report by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ranked Panipat in 11^th place in the countries most polluted cities. Notices have been issued and as such, 110 large factories have been instructed to cease operation until they comply with rules and regulations.

The Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) has been set the task of measuring levels of pollution. New measures involve levying a deposit against factories which will be used to settle fines should the need arise in the future.

Recorded levels of pollution are taken from factory chimney stacks. Visible white smoke is classed as safe, but black or dark coloured smoke is certainly not. Many industries try to get around these regulations by burning the garbage at night.

In November 2019, the largest refinery in South Asia sub-Mahadeep located at Panipat was found guilty of causing air pollution and was fined a considerable amount.

Panipat is the 11^th city and the second most polluted district in Haryana in the country. Pollution is affecting the health of the citizens residing in the villages located around the refinery. The effect of pollution started to affect both livestock and crops. The villagers had repeatedly urged the Panipat Refinery Administration to take steps to eliminate pollution, but they ignored their pleas.

The decrease in the use of private vehicles would certainly help reduce air pollution in Panipat but people are often quite loathed to give up the convenience of their own transport. The vehicles which are in use in some parts of India are older vehicles and are therefore not equipped with the latest filtration systems and catalytic converters.

The traditional burning of cow dung cakes as a source of fuel causes a large amount of air pollution because it is such a common practice. The “cakes” are very efficient, convenient and cheap. They are also readily available. Matters are made worse because they are often burned in enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Very often the younger members of the family are by mum’s side, too.

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

People living in North India especially in Delhi and the surrounding areas know that the months of October and November are the months when the risk from air pollution is at its greatest. Every year during these months, the level of smog in the atmosphere increases so much that it becomes risky to breathe. This is the reason that air pollution is the biggest cause of death in India. These findings were published in the latest edition of The Lancet.

According to a study in India, the five highest risk factors for death in 2019 were air pollution, high blood pressure, tobacco intake, poor diet and high blood sugar levels.

The study showed that life expectancy in India has increased by more than 10 years in the last three decades since 1990, but there is considerable disparity between states in these cases. For example, life expectancy in India in the year 1990 was 59.6 years, which increased to 70.8 years in 2019. In Kerala, it is 77.3 years while in Uttar Pradesh it is 66.9 years