00:00Hello and welcome to One India News. And today, in this special episode, we are tackling a
00:09topic that resonates with all of us living in Delhi right now. And that is air pollution.
00:15As winter roars in, the capital's air quality is spiraling downwards, putting the health
00:21of millions at risk. If I give you a brief about today, today we are experiencing a temperature
00:27of around 32.93 degrees Celsius, with a low of 22.05 degrees Celsius, and humidity is
00:35at 26%. We are already feeling the fog and the smog. To help us unpack this critical
00:43issue, we are joined by Dr. Mayank Saxena. He's Additional Director in the Department
00:47of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at Fortis Hospital in Noida. Dr. Saxena, welcome to
00:54One India News. Thank you so much. So, the first question which I would like to ask you
01:01is to explain us the primary reasons behind air pollution every time in winters. Many
01:08people give different reasons for it. Some say it's because of the stubble burning in
01:13neighboring states. Some say it's because of the festive season, the crackles bursting.
01:19But in your opinion, in your understanding, what are the primary reasons which cause this
01:24air pollution every time in this time period from October to February?
01:29So rightly said, we are seeing every year, we are seeing that during this time from October
01:36to November, December, the pollution actually goes up in a very severe state. And moreover,
01:44the reasons can be multifactorial. However, we can divide these reasons into two, like
01:48natural reasons and man-made reasons. Natural reasons, basically it happens because the air
01:53speed, it goes drastically down during this period and which actually causes the cleaning
02:00capacity of air to be very low. So anything that gets stuck in the air, like pollutants,
02:08PM 2.5 or whatever, it gets stuck in the air and it is very difficult for the air to clean out,
02:13basically. Second thing, the natural reason is the temperature. The temperature goes down a little
02:20on the stable side. The humidity content also, it's on a little higher side in the post-monsoon
02:26phase. So the pollutant carrying capacity of the air also gets increased, basically,
02:32compared to the dry times and summer times. So anything that gets the air capacity of the air
02:42to carry pollution, it actually increases during this time. So these are actually natural reasons.
02:47But however, because this is not only to India, but we are seeing in the subcontinent,
02:54the temperatures and air quality, like air speed, it is similar. But why in India,
03:02in Northern India, we are facing more of a pollution. Now I'm coming on the man-made
03:07reasons, basically. They're basically due to the Praline stubble burning, the vehicular pollution.
03:13And yes, we are seeing the festivities and all, Diwali crackers and all. So we may see more of a
03:19pollution that gets trapped in. But I'll not blame only Diwali to this pollutant and all this.
03:26There are multifactorial cause of it. Many of things are preventable. Many are not. But still,
03:31we are seeing last 10 years back, there was not much of talk about the pollution and all.
03:36But in last 10 years, something has happened. And anytime we are seeing more increased pollution
03:41in coming days, and these 10 years have been little not so good from the pollution aspect.
03:47So there's something man-made factors to pinpoint those factors.
03:52Okay. So there are man-made factors and then there are natural factors, what I understand.
03:57So the man-made factors, we can stop that and improve the air quality. Natural factors are
04:03natural. Okay. So let's talk about the Graded Response Action Plan, which is also called GRAP.
04:10It has been implemented to manage air quality issues. I want to know in your opinion, how
04:16effective has it been or how effective it is going to be in this winter? Will it make any change?
04:22Will it help the people? Any state measures that are being taken would always be for our
04:29benefit only. And we have to follow them as per the state guidelines, basically. So I will always
04:34say that whatever the state is taking action, we should welcome it and it should help in curtailing
04:39down the pollution to any specific extent. But yes, the things if we have to see in both aspects,
04:46if we are living on the government's part only that, okay, government has to pass the instruction,
04:50we have to follow it. Something should be done from our side also. Like during these times,
04:56if we have like earlier, there used to be odd even or something, we have to just see what we
05:00can do from the controlling the vehicular emission aspect. We have to do car cooling.
05:05We have to cut down any construction related things that may be causing more of a suspended
05:10particulate matter to be more in the air. Like we are seeing heaps of cement and heaps of all
05:17the construction related things that are there. So ultimately, it's a state and the personal
05:22responsibility basically from the all aspects. And moreover, we should start controlling the
05:28pollution aspect from our side. I think two or one month ago, one month earlier, basically.
05:34What happened, every time we are starting the initiation in November and December.
05:39Yes. We start facing the issue. Then we start taking the measures and precautions, not before.
05:46Yes. So start the things earlier. Then actually, it's now it's a damage control if we are seeing.
05:53So ultimately, it's again the things, it's the talk of the thing. Every year, we are talking
05:59that we have to do this, we have to do that. But ultimately, the talk happens in during,
06:03only when the... So we have to start a little bit early from the state, also from the individual
06:12aspect also. So it will be a collective effort from the government and individual aspect,
06:17or a family aspect so that we can control the pollution in a very effective manner.
06:23Okay, so Dr. Saxena, you're saying that we are actually controlling the damage,
06:27which is already done. We should be taking the measures before. Okay, we are talking about the
06:33government measures. So let's add on to that. The government has introduced several measures
06:38like the Green War Room, and campaigns like Pradushan Ke Virud. And there are many NGOs
06:44also who work in like cleaning Yamuna and cleaning the air quality of Delhi. Do you believe these
06:51initiatives are sufficient to make a significant impact? Because as we were discussing every year,
06:57these kind of initiatives are done. But every year we face the same issue. So is it sufficient
07:03to get out of this air pollution issue which we are facing in Delhi?
07:09So it is fine. I will not be against it because it is anyway, it is any day for our benefit only.
07:18But as I said, I'm little talking about if they can be implemented a little earlier than the usual
07:25because now, being the pollution is rising, we are talking now we'll do that, we'll do that. But
07:30ultimately, the damage has been done. Now if you're seeing in during pollution times, we are
07:35putting pollution towers to control pollution and all. But ultimately, what we are doing to
07:41control that, we have to identify the specific areas like every year, we are seeing more of
07:47the pollution in Delhi and Sia, that region, Anand Vihar and all. But what we are doing for that
07:52matter, are we able to control in a future aspect, we have to be a little futuristic in our
07:57our things. And these NGOs and everyone is putting all the efforts, but a little timely effort before
08:05the things has happened would always be beneficial, more beneficial. Sir, finally, I would like to ask
08:11you, what message do you want to convey to the policymakers, to those who are taking these
08:17initiatives, and also to the citizens regarding the urgent need for a sustainable solution? You
08:22were saying that we should be taking measures that which is for long term, not for a shorter
08:28period. So what sustainable measures could be taken to tackle Delhi's pollution? So importantly,
08:35we are already on the verge of implementing all the things like we are seeing more of
08:39electric vehicles, we are seeing more of government initiative to control like diesel,
08:43and all the cars should be banned after this much of time duration. More vigilant traffic
08:49policing, checking the PUCs, pollution under control. So it is not that we are not seeing the
08:54action, we are seeing action from the government. As I said, from the individual aspect, also, it
08:59should not be fear of law, but it should be message from within like, yes, if my vehicle
09:03not get the pollution, then we should be getting the pollution done. Second thing, we should be
09:07more pro for the public transport usage or more of a carpooling or we can, you know, club the
09:14population in one transport mechanism and we can reduce the vehicular emission in that matter.
09:20Second thing, strict checks on industries and construction that are happening these days or
09:25events during the period. Now, we are seeing like we are seeing more of like green channels that
09:32are being created, where the construction are there basically there to stop the spread of
09:38all the heaps of cement into the air. So that the mechanisms are already developing,
09:44and they are being developed, just it's need more fairer and more stringent implementation
09:50to control the pollution that happens every year during this time. So as I said,
09:55again, I'm repeating that the action should start way away from around May or June.
10:02Okay, then it will be will be seen in November. So I think in all this, if we start early.
10:12Sir, the last question which I would like to ask you is that as a pulmonologist,
10:17what are the three precautionary measures which you want to give to the citizens,
10:22which they should be definitely following to keep their respiratory system healthy?
10:27So many times we have seen, if I say for example, 10 years back, who would
10:33thought of having a nebulizer machine or steamer or something like at home.
10:37So now, the pollution is one of the reason that we are seeing more of every like kid,
10:44or every elderly or everyone in a home getting cough that is not even going at this time of time,
10:49any viral infection that is happening, but it is not going. So anytime it is affecting the
10:54immunity also, it is affecting our recovery process also, the pollution exposure should
10:58be avoided. And there are two, three things we can do to avoid the pollution. First of all,
11:04get N95 mask during these times, because it helps in curtailing the exposure to the pollution when
11:09you're outside. Second thing is HEPA based air purifiers, it can be used by the individuals who
11:15are having any asthmatic situations or COPD or any respiratory conditions, or any other
11:21healthy food, they will be useful. As per appropriate room size, you should be using
11:26the air purifier accordingly. Third thing, we may use air purifier and all the things,
11:31but what about indoor air pollution? It is most talked about outdoor air pollution,
11:36but indoor air pollution has to be a little thing to be talked about also, because
11:44many a time this is one of the main factors. So get your chimneys in the house corrected,
11:49get your exhaust systems corrected, get your, in your house, there should be no hawans or puja,
11:56especially during these times, people are more into festivities and all. So,
12:01and like burning crackers also, not against burning crackers, but at least then if you're
12:06a respiratory patient, avoid around in your vicinity, like there should be no firecrackers
12:12around you. More importantly, every society must designate a place outside their, you know,
12:18premises basically, where they can be burned and where the pollution exposure can be reduced
12:26from that aspect. Don't burn crackers within your entry of the premise or in the like courtyard or
12:33some veranda or something. So just avoid exposure to those crackers also, like puljhadi and these
12:43smoke that produces more of a smoke. So I'm not against the crackers, but we should
12:48utilize it judiciously in terms of festivities. Okay, sir. Thank you so much for joining us.
12:55That was Dr. Mayank Saxena. We value your expertise and valuable information that you
13:00have provided us today. The challenges posed by air pollution in Delhi are indeed significant,
13:06but with informed strategies and collective action, there is a hope for improvement. It's
13:12essential together to take sustainable solutions. Thank you so much, Dr. Saxena,
13:17for talking to One India News. Don't miss out. Log on to oneindia.com for more updates.
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