- 6 hours ago
This special report covers the escalating air pollution crisis across India, focusing on alarming AQI levels in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Chandigarh, which now rival Delhi's hazardous conditions. The programme examines the primary causes, including unregulated construction, vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and farm fires, while also highlighting the perceived inaction from local governments. The host states, 'This is a man made problem. This is an urban India problem. This is a northern belt problem.' Correspondents from each city detail the specific factors contributing to the deteriorating air quality, from mega-projects in Mumbai to increased stubble burning in Uttar Pradesh. The report underscores the growing public health emergency, framing air pollution as a silent killer affecting millions across the nation.
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NewsTranscript
00:00We've constantly been saying that pollution is not a Delhi problem.
00:05Pollution is not a winter problem.
00:08And now the data has come out to reflect it as well.
00:11Today we showcase five of India's cities where the pollution is as bad as Delhi.
00:19Let's first go across to our colleagues joining us from all these cities.
00:24First up is Chandigarh. Aman Bharadwa joins us from there.
00:28Then there is Anmol Bali from the national capital where the reality behind him looks like sparkling water.
00:34But that's just I believe the NDMA area which is why it's looking so clean.
00:40Then there is my colleague Vidya from Mumbai where the numbers actually beat some of the numbers in Delhi just yesterday.
00:47So we want to understand what's the average looking like there.
00:50Some action has also been taken in Mumbai against construction sites.
00:54There is also Ahmedabad. Bridesh Joshi my colleague joins us from there to tell us more about what's happening in Ahmedabad.
01:01And then in Lucknow, UP one of the worst hit there. Samarthri Vastava joins us from there.
01:07We always give Delhi the first word but today I want to save it for Mumbai.
01:11Because it's beaten Mumbai. It's beaten Delhi in fact in some of the AQI numbers.
01:16So Vidya over to you. Not the Delhi-Bombay fight that Mumbai wants to be winning I'm sure.
01:22How has the AQI come to such an alarming level that the government had to intervene?
01:27Largely due to construction we understand?
01:29Yes, certainly what we are being told is that because of heavy construction especially remember there are a lot of mega projects like the coastal road that is right now being constructed.
01:43Apart from that there are various metro lines that are still under construction.
01:48The metro railway lines will continue construction for the next couple of years as well is what the administration has been saying.
01:54So the Mumbaikers will certainly since the last couple of years since the metro constructions have started we have been going through this phase in winter.
02:03Where in Mumbaikers witness a lot of you know congestion air congestion especially you know with regards to the AQI which is risen especially in areas where there is heavy construction happening.
02:14But that is not the only reason apart from construction sites there are the other reasons that are being cited by experts are of course like say.
02:23You know the volcanic eruption was one which is a generic thing which across Maharashtra and north belt north India that people are witnessing.
02:32But apart from that also you know remember there is a huge dumping ground in the suburban area of Mumbai.
02:38In the suburban area of Mumbai and you know in there are apparently you know satellite images have been caught wherein the entire ground certainly catches fire and lot of you know heat and burn up happens.
02:52That you know pollution really spreads to pockets of areas is what you know through a bit of air and wind flow.
03:01That is causing lot of you know especially like say Mazgao then there is areas like the Chakala where we are located right now the Andhiri area.
03:10Apart from that there is Nevi Nagar, you know the southmost, the tip of south Mumbai.
03:17That's where a whole lot of you know AQI issues have arisen.
03:21But according to experts this is because of the air flow that is there especially because of you know the temperature in the city had gone down dipped a little.
03:29Then there is hardly any you know wind coming from the coastal area to clear off this entire you know air AQI worsening that we have seen.
03:38And that's probably one of the few reasons that have been cited and we are all really hoping for a better wind to flow blow out from the you know the seaside.
03:48So that the entire vehicular and construction as well as various other contributing factors contributing for this you know increase in AQI.
03:57Remember there are certain pockets which have seen 300 AQI but that's the maximum.
04:03It's not like the average Mumbai yesterday's we had seen from yesterday's bulletin of the CPCB it had said the average Mumbai data was about 174.
04:13So it's not like a huge number which has risen above 200 to making it a very poor quality of air.
04:19Vidya let's not fall for what the government is citing as reasons.
04:23They want to leave everything to God. They are hoping the wind will come and clear out the pollution.
04:28They are hoping that you know temperatures will not dip and the pollution will go up.
04:32We've got to question them a little more on this right. We've got to understand in detail that this is not this is a man-made problem.
04:40This is an urban India problem. This is a northern belt problem. Why?
04:44Because we don't deal with our pollution the right way. We're not getting down to the causes which is high amount of vehicles on the road.
04:51Construction which is unregulated. You know industries that are you know operating illegally in several cases not following the norms.
04:58So this is you know a classic example of what government loves to do. Blame it on the gods and hope that the winds will you know take it away which is what we've got to stop doing really.
05:07And this is the reason why from Delhi this matter has gone all across North India now.
05:13And talking about North India let me go a little bit towards you know Ahmedabad now.
05:18Brijesh Doshi is here. Brijesh is standing at this spectacular location where all I can see is haze behind him.
05:24Brijesh if I don't tell people you're not in Delhi people might think you're in Delhi. That's how bad it's looking.
05:30And the average AQI there as well has been over 200 going from 200 to 300. Tell us has the government woken up or they are also like Mumbai leaving it to gods that air will come and clear it out.
05:42Definitely. See right now I am at one of the cleanest city of India, Gandhinagar which AQI is not showing the mark of 200 but still we can see the visual how hazel the air is here.
06:04Though government is not planning for any kind of steps to avoid such kind of air pollution there is no sign from the government itself as well.
06:16As well as the people are not aware about this kind of air pollution they are not taking it seriously.
06:22So this is on both part, part on the people as well and part on the government side as well.
06:28No one is serious about the air pollution which is affecting their life, which is affecting their health as well.
06:33But no one is serious about it because all are busy in their life to earn money and to complete their livelihood.
06:41So this is the reason, there are multiple reasons as Vidya say Guja is one of the most highly urbanized state.
06:49So the construction work is one of the reason, the air pollution is due to the vehicle.
06:54The large number of vehicles where the large number of amount is old vehicles, more than 10 or 15 years old vehicles which are running on the roads.
07:01So these are the reasons which are forcing this air pollution and no one is serious about it at this moment.
07:10And we really hope it is touching 200 as we speak actually.
07:13I am looking at the numbers popping on our screen right now.
07:16So the government hasn't woken up to it, people haven't made it an active conversation.
07:20But that's the attempt of this program to tell you it's not just Delhi.
07:23It's all of the northern belt.
07:25But let me go to Samarth Srivastav now joining us from Lucknow.
07:29Samarth, one of the most staggering numbers that have come from UP has been the number of farm fires.
07:35While we look at satellite imaging and you can question it as much as you like that you know farmers have become smarter,
07:41they are dodging the satellite and all of that.
07:43It has gone down in Punjab, it has gone down in Haryana.
07:46But in UP it has actually gone up.
07:49Are the authorities taking cognizance of this at all?
07:53That's a massive situation for Uttar Pradesh because this farm burning is clearly a big signal.
08:03Because when we speak to the authorities they clearly say that it's all happening due to the biomass burning.
08:08They also believe that vehicular emission has increased and as the winds have slowed down
08:13and that could also be the reason because of the higher AQI.
08:16If you talk about the state capital Lucknow, the AQI level has gone up with around 254 at the highest around the Lalbagh area in the month of November.
08:26But if you talk about the current situation it is somewhere around 210 and 215 which comes in the radar of Pua.
08:32Because if you talk about the central border pollution numbers AQI from 200 around to 300 is called Pua.
08:38And that's why the situation is worsening in Lucknow.
08:41And it's not just about Lucknow. If you talk about the western UP areas especially the districts like Hapur which are quite near to Delhi.
08:48So their reasons, the reasons of concern have become much more as compared to Lucknow.
08:53The AQI have crossed 300 mark in those particular areas.
08:56Though when we speak to the doctors, doctors are saying that those who are suffering from lung related diseases must avoid coming out in the early morning walks or the late evening walks.
09:07Because that can make you a fit person but with this year around that could make your things very difficult.
09:13If you are a throat patient or if you are any diseases related to your lungs.
09:17So that's a big concern and if you see what you talked about the authorities and the government.
09:21On the ground we are not seeing much efforts from Lucknow at least.
09:25Maybe it could be happening near the Delhi, NOIDA thing, NOIDA also comes in UP.
09:28But in Lucknow, no such effort has been taken by the administration so far to curb this particular rising AQI number.
09:35Back to you.
09:36All right.
09:37Thanks for that so much.
09:38Let me also cut across to Aman Bharatwaj, my colleague joining us from Chandigarh.
09:42Aman Chandigarh is known to be the most well planned city, the most clean city.
09:46People, when they want to get away from Delhi's bad AQI, there was a time we would run away to Chandigarh.
09:52But that's not the case anymore.
09:54Chandigarh numbers are looking as bad.
09:57Have the authorities woken up to it?
09:59Could you give us an idea of what's happening there?
10:01Is it largely because of the industries in the periphery?
10:07See, there's no serious initiative that has been taken by the government yet,
10:11whether it's Chandigarh or state of Punjab or Himachal.
10:13Because here in Chandigarh, first you see the visuals, through the visuals, the visibility.
10:18Though it's better than Delhi or other cities, but it's been affected
10:22because there are 10 lakhs trees in Chandigarh which keeps the city clean and green.
10:26And it touches Himachal industrial area, Baddi, BBN, one side and other side of it touches Punjab,
10:32which is, you know, green fields and clean and green environment there.
10:39But the air is being impacted because there are cases of subal burning.
10:44Though it has been reduced to 50%, now it has been to 5,085.
10:49But in previous time, last year it was 10,000.
10:54So that is also the impact.
10:56Constructional pollution is also the factor because here,
11:01Chandigarh surrounding area, whether it's Mohali or New Chandigarh,
11:05it's been developing day by day.
11:06Ziragpur has been developing.
11:08And there are 5,000 plants adjoining Baddi, Himachal area.
11:12So that is a contribution for the pollution, not only the air pollution,
11:16but also the water pollution and soil pollution.
11:19And also you see the air flow from Pakistan because there are more than 5,000 cases of farm fire.
11:27So that is also major one of the contribution to the air pollution
11:31and reasons to the poor visibility and AQI here in Chandigarh is 176,
11:36which somehow has been keep on fluctuating depending on the air flow, wind flow.
11:44So people should take an initiative voluntary.
11:49That is a concern.
11:50And also whether it's a vehicular pollution or pollution through the construction.
11:57And also the management of the pollution from household,
12:02that is what administration is concerned, that it should be voluntary
12:06because every department is interlinked,
12:08whether it's environment or pollution or MC or local government,
12:11then the centre or the state government.
12:13The departments are interlinked and they keep on blaming on each and every time on each other.
12:19Household issues.
12:20This is a public health problem.
12:22This is a public issue.
12:23How can, you know, private solutions be found to a very public issue?
12:28It's baffling to hear you say that and quite heartbreaking, you know, quite frankly,
12:32to see Chandigarh in this manner as well.
12:34But let me come to Delhi then.
12:36Anmol, you look at our colleagues all across.
12:38In Chandigarh, it's the issue of farm fires, perhaps in the near around areas in construction.
12:43In Mumbai, it's construction, vehicular pollution.
12:45In Ahmedabad, it's similar.
12:47Vehicular pollution that has gone in industries as well.
12:50Lucknow, similar issue.
12:52All of them put together and you arrive at Delhi.
12:55But here, none of these problems are new, right?
12:57We've been discussing, you and I, we've been discussing this for a while now.
13:00The big question at the moment is, the government has finally enforced 50% work from home.
13:07Saying, do not step out, ease out the air, cut down on vehicular pollution.
13:12Have you been able to get a sense of it's actually having an impact?
13:16Are people actually staying back home?
13:18Because the state of traffic on the roads and the amount of tweets we've been getting,
13:22tell us a very different story.
13:23So, Anil, as you know, Delhi is currently fighting its worst battle with the pollution
13:31and where AQI has surpassed the very poor and severe category.
13:34And we have been reporting this for last one month because from 1st November to today,
13:39the AQI in the national capital was recorded into the very poor category.
13:43Currently, I am here at the power centre of Delhi, at the India Gate, and it's evening.
13:48But still, you can see a thick layer of smoke, a thick layer of pollution is visible here.
13:53I'll ask my camera person, Kirpal Singh, to zoom towards the backside from where I'm standing,
13:58where you can clearly see that how a thick layer of smoke has engulfed the national capital.
14:02Earlier, we used to see this only early in the morning, in the wee hours.
14:05But yeah, still, in the afternoon also, in the evening also, we can clearly see the smoke.
14:10The various reasons behind the AQI, deteriorating AQI, and the pollution in the national capital
14:14is vehicular emission, emission from the industries, dust particles coming out from the construction work,
14:21and GRAP 1, 2, 3 was also implemented by the government.
14:25Later, the GRAP 4 measures were shifted to the GRAP 3,
14:28and now Delhi government has asked 50% of the workforce to shift to the work from home.
14:32But yeah, I'll show you another visual of the road.
14:35I'll ask my camera person, Kirpal Singh, to pan towards the road,
14:37where I'll show you the current condition of traffic, because Delhi has the highest number of registered vehicles
14:42in the NCR region, with around 1.5 crore registered vehicles.
14:47Delhi, which only has the land mass of 2.7% of the NCR area,
14:52which clearly shows that vehicle emission is one of the reasons behind deteriorating AQI in Delhi.
14:58And I'll also, Sonal, share an interesting fact with you about the EV adoption in Delhi,
15:02because we have seen in 2020, EV policy was made, and now also the government are consulting for the EV policy 2.0.
15:09But yeah, if you will see the numbers, that in the month of October, only 4,419 two-wheeler EVs were purchased.
15:18On the other hand, the patrol two-wheeler vehicles which were purchased were 78,114,
15:24which clearly shows the low adoption of EV, and even people are coming out in a large number in their vehicles,
15:30which clearly emit thousands of tons of carbon dioxide into the environment,
15:34which clearly deteriorates the air quality in the national capital.
15:37Where we see that, we have also seen that in the month of November, on 11, 12, and 13,
15:42the AQI was over 400 into the very severe category.
15:44And also in the morning also, we have seen that various AQI stations have also reported the AQI above 400.
15:50But yeah, politics is also escalating on it, where Aam Aadhu Party is now targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party,
15:55and also accusing BJP of tempering the AQI monitoring data in the national capital.
16:00Yeah, well, that's a story that we've done a reality check on, and we've seen very clear evidence of that happening as well.
16:05But that's the sad, sad picture to everybody watching right now, what's happening in northern India.
16:12It could be Chandigarh or Mumbai. It could be Lucknow or Ahmedabad.
16:16And Delhi, of course. All of these cities now in the poor category of air.
16:22All of us dying slowly, becoming dumber, damaging our body day by day, you know.
16:28And the reason why it doesn't wake up people is because the impact is slow.
16:33It's not happening like COVID suddenly to you. But this is going to impact generations.
16:39All studies, all scientific data will tell you that.
16:42Any doctor who's operating on people in the northern belt will tell you how lungs are getting black,
16:48how more lung cancers are found in non-smokers as well.
16:52All this data makes you believe one thing, that air pollution is a silent killer.
16:57The sooner you and I wake up to the matter, and the sooner the government wakes up to the matter,
17:02the better and the more lives we'll manage to save.
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