Despite COVID-19 pandemic-induced prolonged lockdowns, pollution caused by nitrogen dioxide has increased in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Lucknow.
A recent satellite data analysis, by environmental NGO Greenpeace India, shows an increase in levels of the poisonous nitrogen dioxide across these eight cities. The study was conducted between April 2020 and April 2021.
World Health Organization, it may be recalled, declared coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic in mid-March last year, and the Indian government announced nationwide lockdown from March 24, 2020.
Most Indian cities have been reporting poor air quality. But nitrogen oxide is a life-threatening pollutant, and exposure to it can lead to respiratory illness, damage to lungs and brain, and in long run, increases risk of heart attacks and lung cancer.
The situation is most alarming in Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru, where pollution caused by nitrogen oxide increased by 125%, 94% and 90%, respectively.
As for the other five cities, Mumbai’s NO2 levels were up by 52%, Hyderabad recorded 69%, Kolkata 11%, Jaipur 47% and Lucknow 32%.
“The air quality levels in these cities are alarming. The cities and the people are already paying a huge price for our reliance on burning fossil fuels, this business as usual cannot continue. People saw clean skies and breathed fresh air during the nationwide lockdown though it was an unintended consequence of the pandemic. The disruption caused by the pandemic is a case to transition to cleaner, equitable and sustainable decentralised energy sources such as rooftop solar, and clean and sustainable mobility must be central to recovery efforts across cities. The recovery from the pandemic must not come at the expense of a return to previous levels of air pollution,” said Avinash Chanchal, Senior Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace India.
Noting that the alarming rise in levels of nitrogen oxide in the country is caused by man-made sources, especially power generation and industries, Chanchal demanded a stringent law which will facilitate reducing the levels of pollutants.
“The governments, local administration, and city planners must initiate the transition from privately owned vehicles to an efficient, clean and safe public transport system that is run on clean energy that of course, must provide Covid-19 related safety measures,” Chanchal said.
Rise in population has also marked as a major contributor to the increase in air pollution.
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