India is facing a new epidemic like situation which is the decline in air quality. The poor quality of air is causing the breathing issues.
AQI is known as Air Quality Index. It is a recording system of air quality which is used by government authorities. In this system, the quality is given in simple numbers. The AQI is recorded as, the higher the number, poorer is the air quality. The lower the number, the better the air quality.
India, in the current scenario is facing a new epidemic like situation which is the decline in air quality. The poor quality of air is causing the breathing issues and has made it very difficult to respire. 0-50 is considered as the best quality.
The 300-500 records the worst air quality which is harmful and illness causing quality. Delhi currently is facing approximately 350 AQI, even the other parts of the country are not dealing with a breathable environment.
Causes of Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality is caused by the two factors – the man made factors and the meteorological factors. When both the factors get mixed with air results in poor or good air quality depending upon the activity. Man made factors causing poor air quality are:
- Stubble Burning: In many parts of India, Stubble burning is practiced in winters. This burning leads to release of harmful pollutants in air.
- Industrial Waste: The waste produced by industries is one of the leading reasons for decline in the quality of air. The emissions from industries and factories, use of power plants causes the bad air. The larger number of industries lack in the technology which is pollution control.
- The pollution by Vehicles: Road Dust caused by the vehicles result in pollution. The pollution by the vehicles leads to airborne diseases such as Tuberculosis. Also, India ranks the highest in tuberculosis rank in the World.
There are many other human activities that lead to poor air quality resulting in an unbreathable environment for the citizens of the country. The meteorological reasons are dry air, the air that lacks moisture.
Cure of Poor Air Quality
There should be changes in transportation rules such as the use of electric vehicles that can help deal with road dust.
- The Government of India should place some industrial reforms that ensures the establishment of pollution control technology in every sector from small scale industries to large scale industries.
- Provide farms with the better residue management technique to reduce the stubble burning rate.
- Various programmes should be initiated that encourage citizens to plant more and more trees, so that the airborne diseases can be controlled.
- Policies like the National Cleaning Air Programme (NCAP) should be implemented with strict means.
